John Calvin Commentary Joel 3:7

"behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head;" — Joel 3:7 (ASV)

The Prophet declares here more fully and expressly that God had not so deserted the Jews, but that he intended, in the course of time, to stretch out his hand to them again. It was indeed a temporary desertion, but it was necessary for the faithful in the meantime to rely on this assurance—that God purposed again to restore his people. And of this the Prophet now speaks: Behold, he says, I will raise them from the place unto which ye have sold them; as though he said, “Neither distance of place, nor the intervening sea, will hinder me from restoring my people.” Since, then, the Syrians and Sidonians thought that the Jews were prevented from returning to their country because they had been taken away to distant parts of the world, God says that this would be no obstacle in his way to collect again his Church.

But it may be asked, when has this prediction been fulfilled? As we indeed know that the Jews have never returned to their own country: for shortly after their return from exile, they were diminished in various ways, and eventually the most grievous calamities followed, which consumed the greatest part of the people.

Since, then, this has been the condition of that nation, we ought to inquire whether Christ has collected the Jews, who had been widely dispersed. We indeed know that they were especially scattered at that time, for the land of Judea never ceased to be distressed by continual wars until Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were almost wholly consumed. This being the case, then, when can we say that this prediction has been fulfilled?

Many explain the words allegorically and say that the Prophet speaks of apostles and martyrs who, through various persecutions, were driven to different regions; but this is a strained view.

I therefore do not doubt that he here refers to a spiritual gathering. It is certain that God, since the appearance of Christ, has joined together his Church by the bond of faith; for not only have the people of that nation united together into one, but also the Gentiles, who were previously alienated from the Church and had no fellowship with it, have been collected into one body. Thus, we see that what the Prophet says has been spiritually fulfilled; even the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have been redeemed by the Lord and restored again, not on foot or by sea; for Jerusalem has been built everywhere, as it is said in Zechariah.

I will therefore gather them, he says; and he adds, I will return recompense on your head. He again confirms what he said before—that though the ungodly should exult while ruling over the children of God, their cruelty will not go unpunished; for they shall find that the Church is never neglected by God; though he may subject it to various troubles, exercise its patience, and even chastise it, he will yet always be its defender.