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Exodus 32:30
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

Joshua 14:12
Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakimswere there, andthat the citieswere greatand fenced: if so be the LORDwill be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

1 Samuel 6:5
Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

and leave.

Isaiah 65:8
Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, andone saith, Destroy it not; for a blessingis in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

Haggai 2:19
Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I blessyou.

even.

Joel 1:9,13,16
The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn…

He may turn and relent
The possibility of God relenting is a theme throughout the Old Testament, where God is depicted as responsive to genuine repentance. The Hebrew word for "relent" can also mean to have compassion or to change one's mind, as seen inExodus 32:14 when God relents from bringing disaster upon His people after Moses' intercession. This highlights God's character as both just and merciful, willing to forgive when there is true repentance.

and leave a blessing behind Him—
The idea of God leaving a blessing suggests restoration and provision following judgment. In the context of Joel, this is significant because the land had been devastated by locusts, symbolizing divine judgment. The blessing implies a reversal of fortune, where God restores what was lost. This can be seen as a type of Christ, who brings spiritual restoration and blessing through His sacrifice.

grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God.
These offerings were part of the sacrificial system in ancient Israel, representing dedication and thanksgiving to God. The mention of grain and drink offerings indicates a return to normalcy and worship after a period of judgment. It underscores the importance of worship and gratitude in the life of the believer. This connects to the broader biblical theme of God desiring a relationship with His people, where offerings are a means of expressing devotion and reliance on Him.

The opening question is an invitation to humble expectancy. Instead of presuming on God, Joel calls the people to hope in His mercy without demanding it.

• The phrase echoes David’s plea when his child was ill: “Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me” (2 Samuel 12:22).

• Jonah employed the same words to urge repentance in Nineveh: “Who knows? God may turn and relent” (Jonah 3:9).

• These parallels underline a consistent biblical theme: genuine contrition leaves room for God’s sovereign compassion while acknowledging He is never obligated (Psalm 51:17).

Joel reassures the repentant that God’s character is not rigid judgment but responsive grace.

• Jeremiah records God’s own promise: “If… that nation turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned” (Jeremiah 18:7-8).

• After Moses’ intercession, “the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened” (Exodus 32:14), showing that divine wrath and divine mercy are both real and literal.

• Ezekiel adds, “If the wicked man turns… he will surely live” (Ezekiel 18:21). God’s willingness to change the outcome underscores His personal engagement with His people.

The Lord’s passing doesn’t have to end in ruin; it can end in refreshment.

• Earlier, the locust invasion left nothing behind (Joel 1:4), but repentance can reverse the devastation.

• Haggai witnessed a similar pivot: “From this day on I will bless you” (Haggai 2:19).

• Malachi speaks of the windows of heaven opening when God’s people return (Malachi 3:10). The blessing God “leaves behind” is tangible, not merely symbolic.

Restored crops mean restored worship.

• Because of the plague, “grain offering and drink offering are cut off from the house of the LORD” (Joel 1:9). Repentance aims not merely at personal relief but at renewed devotion.

•Numbers 28:2-8 prescribes daily grain and drink offerings, symbolizing gratitude and dependence.

• After exile, Israel prioritized these offerings when the altar was rebuilt (Ezra 3:5), showing that true blessing frees God’s people to honor Him first.

Joel 2:14 moves from uncertain hope to concrete expectation: if the people turn, God may equally turn, exchanging judgment for favor. His potential change of course is not fickleness but faithfulness to His covenant mercy. The resulting blessing restores both livelihood and worship, proving that God’s greatest gift is the renewed privilege of honoring Him with all He provides.

(1) the interrogative rendering, there is

(2) that of the Chaldee, followed by Rashi and Kimchi.

The latter says, "He that knows the way of repentance, let him repent, and God will repent of this evil." Also in addition to . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...