Joel 3:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, the Lord of all humanity speaks to them, saying, What is it to Me and to you, Tyre and Sidon and all Galilee of the Gentiles? What justification do you have for your cruelty, as you ruthlessly oppress Israel, which is in sorrow and has endured immense suffering at the hands of the Babylonians, who maliciously attack and ridicule Me, the one who saves and protects them, daring not merely to speak but also to act with hostility against Me? Thus, retribution will swiftly come upon you; vengeance will be your due when I judge you in the valley of Jehoshaphat. I accuse you of having seized the treasures of the temple and plundered the golden vessels, dedicating them to your gods. This is an egregious and grievous sin, a transgression that offends God; for He proclaimed, I will not share My glory with another, nor My praise with graven images (Isaiah 42:8). Indeed, to decorate the temples of idols with objects consecrated to God indicates that the Lord of all is deemed secondary, and these idols are seen as superior and capable of saving their worshippers. Moreover, it is not sufficient for your wickedness that you have stripped My temple of its dedicated offerings; you have also handed over the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the children of the Greeks. This likely transpired in such a manner that some Israelites were carried away into the lands of the heathens who bought them, possibly the Tyrians, or other nations engaged in commerce, driven by profit. This language may also apply to the purveyors of heretical beliefs, who, as if robbing the children of the Church, trade them for Hellenic wisdom, leading them to become lost seekers of truth or, worse, rebellious distorters of the truth, when they should have lived in accordance with the pure doctrine and upheld the genuine word of truth. In doing so, they ensure that those who follow them drift beyond their proper boundaries. However, the genuine boundaries and domain of the Church comprise the understanding of truth and the commitment to everything that is thoroughly examined up to the point of certainty. Indeed, the golden and silver vessels and the prized treasures of God can rightly be likened to those who genuinely shine in their faith, celebrated by the worthy deeds and radiant with the beauty of virtue. Yet, if any of those who so brightly reflect righteousness should become ensnared by deceit, the architects of such delusions will undoubtedly hear, My silver and My gold shall be taken away, and My chosen ones shall be brought into your possessions. This transgression is grievous and shall not evade punishment; for those who sin against their brethren, for whom Christ died, ultimately sin against Christ Himself, to whom they will certainly have to answer for their wrongdoings.

You have appropriated My silver and gold, transported My precious jewels to your temples, and sold My people to foreign nations, attempting to expel them from their rightful boundaries.

It is believed among the Jews that these words were directed towards Tyre, Sidon, and the borders of the Palestinians, or Galilee of the nations, who, during the Jews’ captivity and following the Roman triumph over them, persecuted the people of God and, in essence, God Himself through His people. For it is written, "He that receiveth me, receiveth me" (Matthew 10:40). Thus, those who persecute the people of God are, in effect, waging war against the very God to whom they belong. The Lord declares, “I will repay you for what you have done to My people,” for you have taken My silver and gold and sacrificed them to your idols, which refers to the sacred items of the temple—the golden lampstand, the golden grain offering, the two golden cherubim, and all the other vessels of worship.

Historically, it is recorded that the Chaldeans were responsible for transferring the Lord’s temple vessels to the temple of their god, Bela, after which Belshazzar drank from the sacred cup, leading to the loss of his kingdom to the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5). However, considering that this event is prophesied to occur after the ominous day of the Lord, the apostles interpreted it as relating to the resurrection of Christ, while the Jews see it as a reference to the coming judgment. It is more plausible to view this as pertaining to the Romans, specifically Vespasian and Titus, who constructed the Temple of Peace in Rome and donated the temple vessels and offerings, as attested by historical accounts. At that time, the children of Judah and Jerusalem, distinct from the ten tribes who resided in the regions of Midian, were sold to the Greeks, resulting in a widespread servitude among the Jewish people.

This situation connects to Tyre and Sidon in illustrating the divine retribution that followed the spilling of Christ’s blood and the ensuing destruction of Jerusalem, which unfolded as a consequence of divine justice. In interpreting this allegorically, we extend the meaning of Tyre, Sidon, and the Palestinians to represent those who oppress and persecute God’s people. The name Tyre connotes oppression, while Sidon signifies entrapment and death. Those who oppress His people will soon and easily face the Lord’s judgment for their actions, as they have persecuted Him. His silver and gold, embodying the teachings of Scripture and the profound wisdom of the church, have been sacrificed to their falsehoods. The heretic sells the sons of Judah and Jerusalem—those who have been led astray and compelled to worship idols—transforming them from Christians into Gentiles, seeking to remove them from their rightful inheritance, denying them a place in Judea and the truth, rendering them captives to delusion.

All of this can be viewed in the context of the day of judgment, as retribution applies universally, regardless of the distinction of time. The Hebrew term for Galilee is noted as Galiloth, with Aquila translating it as “sand-hills,” which may refer to regions of Palestine rather than a non-existent Galilee of the Philistines.