SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:8
Y talaré a los moradores de Azoto, y a los gobernadores de Ascalón; y tornaré mi mano sobre Ecrón, y el remanente de los palestinos perecerá, dijo el Señor DIOS.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod , etc.] The same with Azotus, ( Acts 8:40); another principal city of the Philistines: this perhaps was fulfilled when Tartan was sent against it by Sargon king of Assyria, and took it, ( Isaiah 20:1); or however in the times of the Maccabees, when Jonathan took it, and burnt it, and the cities round about it; and took their spoils, and burnt the temple of Dagon, and those that fled to it; and what with those that were burnt, and those that fell by the sword, there perished about eight thousand, “84 But Jonathan set fire on Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, with them that were fled into it, he burned with fire. 85 Thus there were burned and slain with the sword well nigh eight thousand men.” (1 Maccabees 10) this was so strong a place, that, according to Herodotus f43 , it held out a siege of twenty nine years, under Psammitichus king of Egypt. It was, according to Diodorus Siculus f44 , thirty four miles, from Gaza before mentioned; and it was about eight or nine from Ashkelon, and fourteen or fifteen from Ekron after mentioned: and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon ; another of the five lordships of the Philistines, whose king or governor should be cut off, with the inhabitants of it; this was done by Nebuchadnezzar, ( Jeremiah 47:5-7). This place was about fifteen miles from Gaza, Mr. Sandys says ten, but it was eight or nine miles from Ashdod; and, as Josephus says, was sixty five miles from Jerusalem. It was the birth place of Herod the great, who from thence is called an Ashkelonite; but the king or governor of it was cut off before his time. It was governed by kings formerly. Justin f47 makes mention of a king of Ashkelon; according to the Samaritan interpreter, ( Genesis 20:1); it is the same with Gerar, which had a king in the times of Abraham; hence a sceptre is here ascribed to it: and I will turn mine hand against Ekron : to destroy that; another of the chief cities of the Philistines. It was about ten miles from Gath; four of the five lordships are here mentioned, but not Gath, which was the fifth; (see 1 Samuel 6:17,18); because, as Kimchi says, it was in the hands of Judah. All these places were inhabited by Heathens, and guilty of gross idolatry, which must be one of the transgressions for which they were punished. Gaza was a place much given to idolatry, as it was even in later times; when other neighbouring cities embraced the Christian religion, the inhabitants of it were violent persecutors; hence that saying of Gregory Nazianzen f48 , “who knows not the madness of the inhabitants of Gaza?” here stood the temple of the god Marnas f49 , which with the Syrians signified the lord of men: at Ashdod or Azotus stood the temple of Dagon, where he was worshipped, ( 1 Samuel 5:2); “But Jonathan set fire on Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, with them that were fled into it, he burned with fire.” (1 Maccabees 10:84) Near Ashkelon, as Diodorus Siculus relates, was a large and deep lake, full of fishes; and by it was a temple of a famous goddess, called by the Syrians Derceto, who had a woman’s face, but the rest of her body in the form of a fish; being, as the fable goes, changed into one upon her casting herself into the above lake on a certain occasion; hence the Syrians abstained from fishes, and worshipped them as gods. Herodotus calls this city a city of Syria, and speaks of a temple dedicated to Urania Venus; and in the Talmud mention is made of the temple of Zeripha, or of a molten image at Ashkelon; and, besides idolatry, this place seems to have been famous for witchcraft; for it is said that Simeon ben Shetach hung on one day at Ashkelon fourscore women for being witches; and, at Ekron, Baalzebub or the god of the fly was worshipped: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God ; all the other towns and cities belonging to them, besides those mentioned; which very likely had its accomplishment in the times of the Maccabees, when they fell into the hands of the Jews.
Matthew Henry Commentary
God's judgments in the latter days. (Joel 3:1-8) The extent of thes judgments. (Joel 3:9-17) The blessings the church shall enjoy. (Joe 3:18-21) Joel 3:1-8 The restoration of the Jews, and the final victory of tru religion over all opposers, appear to be here foretold. The contemp and scorn with which the Jews have often been treated as a people, an the little value set upon them, are noticed. None ever hardened his heart against God or his church, and prospered long.
Joel 3:9-17 Here is a challenge to all the enemies of God's people There is no escaping God's judgments; hardened sinners, in that day of wrath, shall be cut off from all comfort and joy. Most of the prophet foretell the same final victory of the church of God over all tha oppose it. To the wicked it will be a terrible day, but to the righteous it will be a joyful day. What cause have those who possess a interest in Christ, to glory in their Strength and their Redeemer! The acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favour to some, wil be a day of remarkable vengeance to others: let every one that is ou of Christ awake, and flee from the wrath to come.
Joel 3:18-21 There shall be abundant Divine influences, and the gospe will spread speedily into the remotest corners of the earth. Thes events are predicted under significant emblems; there is a day coming when every thing amiss shall be amended. The fountain of this plenty is in the house of God, whence the streams take rise. Christ is thi Fountain; his sufferings, merit, and grace, cleanse, refresh, and make fruitful. Gospel grace, flowing from Christ, shall reach to the Gentil world, to the most remote regions, and make them abound in fruits of righteousness; and from the house of the Lord above, from his heavenl temple, flows all the good we daily taste, and hope to enjoy eternally.
Judgments against the Syrians, Philistines, Tyrians, Edomites, an Ammonites.
--GOD employed a shepherd, a herdsman, to reprove and warn the people Those to whom God gives abilities for his services, ought not to be despised for their origin, or their employment. Judgments are denounce against the neighbouring nations, the oppressors of God's people. The number of transgressions does not here mean that exact number, but many: they had filled the measure of their sins, and were ripe for vengeance. The method in dealing with these nations is, in part, the same, yet in each there is something peculiar. In all ages thi bitterness has been shown against the Lord's people. When the Lor reckons with his enemies, how tremendous are his judgments __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
והכרתי 3772 יושׁב 3427 מאשׁדוד 795 ותומך 8551 שׁבט 7626 מאשׁקלון 831 והשׁיבותי 7725 ידי 3027 על 5921 עקרון 6138 ואבדו 6 שׁארית 7611 פלשׁתים 6430 אמר 559 אדני 136 יהוה׃ 3069
