Joel 2:14 - Exposition

Who knoweth if he will return and repent ; that is, return from and repent of his purpose of executing judgment. And leave a blessing behind him ; that is, leave behind him when returning from the exercise of judgment to resume his seat on the heavenly throne, the blessing being a replacement of the harvest fruits which the locusts had consumed, even a meat offering and a drink offering, for the service of the sanctuary as well as sustenance to supply the people's own bodily wants. Jerome explains the question of Joel 2:14 with much judgment as follows: "Lest perchance they might either despair on account of the magnitude of their crimes, or the greatness of the Divine clemency might make them careless." Besides

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