Yoel 3:3

3:3 and they cast lots for my people.

They traded ¹  a boy for a prostitute;

they sold a little girl for wine so they could drink. ² 

Yoel 3:8

3:8 I will sell your sons and daughters to ³  the people of Judah. ⁴ 

They will sell them to the Sabeans, ⁵  a nation far away.

Indeed, the Lord has spoken!

[3:3]  ¹ tn Heb “gave.”

[3:3]  ² sn Heb “and they drank.” Joel vividly refers to a situation where innocent human life has little value; its only worth is its use in somehow satisfying selfish appetites of wicked people who have control over others (cf. Amos 2:6 and 8:6).

[3:8]  ³ tn Heb “into the hand of.”

[3:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “the sons of Judah.”

[3:8]  ⁵ sn The Sabeans were Arabian merchants who were influential along the ancient caravan routes that traveled through Arabia. See also Job 1:15; Isa 43:3; 45:14; Ps 72:10.