Joel 3:19
“Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Egypt and Edom will be made desolate for their violence and the innocent blood they shed against Judah.
What Does Joel 3:19 Mean?
Against the picture of Judah's flourishing, Joel sets the fate of Egypt and Edom: they shall become a desolation and a desolate wilderness. The reason is named, their violence against the children of Judah and the innocent blood they shed in the land. The God who blesses His restored people also judges those who shed innocent blood and refuse to repent.
The contrast between fruitful Judah and desolate Egypt and Edom marks the moral order of God's world: blessing follows those who turn to Him, and judgment falls on persistent cruelty. God takes innocent blood with utmost seriousness; the cry of the wronged reaches Him. This is sober but just. It assures the oppressed that violence does not go unanswered, and it warns the violent that the land they ruined will become their own ruin. The Lord defends the defenseless and will not hold the guilty forever guiltless who will not turn.