“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in Yahweh, your God; for he gives you the former rain in just measure, and he causes the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.
rejoice in the Lord--not merely in the springing pastures, as the brute "beasts" which cannot raise their thoughts higher (Isa 61:10; Hab 3:18). former rain . . . the rain . . . the former . . . the latter rain--The autumnal, or "former rain," from the middle of October to the middle of December, is put first, as Joel prophesies in summer when the...
The Prophet calls earth, beasts, and the sons of Zion each to rejoice, but for reasons suited to each. The soil has suffered drought; the beasts have groaned for want of plants; the men have sighed in calamity. To all three He speaks: do not fear. He has destroyed the foe and restored what was laid waste.
AI summary
Commenting on Joel 2:21-23
Be glad then, ye children of Zion,.... The people of the Jews, and especially the spiritual and believing part of them; such as were born again, that were born of Zion, and born in Zion, and brought up by her, and in her; the children of that Zion or Jerusalem that is the mother of us all; and who were looking for the Messiah, and...