{"slug":"LIT1689Joel","id":"ethiopic:betmas:LIT1689Joel","title":"Book of Joel","author":"Anonymous","genre":"other","date":"","tradition":"ethiopic","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation could be identified: a language model asked twice could not name one, though it could not rule one out either. That is not proof that none exists — translations in dissertations, recent books and other modern languages are easily missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T04:52:58Z","cost_usd":0.005903},"source":{"registry_id":"ethiopic:betmas:LIT1689Joel","work_id":"LIT1689Joel","edition":"betmas","language":"","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0 (per file); site footer states NC-SA - treat as NC","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"},"stats":{"passages":10,"english_words":2089,"coptic_letters":0,"commentary_units":59,"commentary_kinds":8,"derived_notes":0,"ambiguities":20,"work_notes":5,"external_links":0,"timeline":5},"summary":{"work":"LIT1689Joel","abstract":"The Geʿez version of the Book of Joel, transmitted as part of the Ethiopic Octateuch and minor prophets corpus, follows the standard twelve-minor-prophets order with a superscription identifying Joel as son of Pethuel. The translation derives from the Septuagint and is attested in manuscripts from the 14th century onward. The text is used liturgically in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church during the Fast of the Prophets and in homilies on repentance and the Day of the Lord. This edition (betmas:LIT1689Joel) lacks a critical apparatus, so textual fluidity cannot be assessed. The Geʿez text includes expansions and adaptations, such as added crops and penitential practices, reflecting later Ethiopic Christian tradition.","historical_context":"The original Book of Joel is traditionally dated to the late 9th–8th century BCE, but modern scholarship often places it in the post-exilic period (5th–4th c. BCE). The Geʿez version is a later translation from the Septuagint, likely produced in the Aksumite or early medieval period (c. 5th–14th c.) within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The text is transmitted as part of the broader Ethiopic Octateuch and minor prophets corpus, with manuscript evidence from the 14th century onward. The Geʿez text reflects the liturgical and theological concerns of the Ethiopian church, including expansions that adapt the biblical call to repentance into communal rituals like fasting and ash-spreading. The community that preserved and used this text was the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which read Joel during the season of Tsome Nebiyat (Fast of the Prophets) and cited it in homilies. The language is Geʿez, a classical Ethiopic language used in liturgy and scripture. The genre is prophetic book, but the Geʿez version includes expansions characteristic of the Ethiopic tradition, such as added crops and penitential practices.","significance":"The Geʿez Book of Joel is significant for understanding how biblical texts were adapted and expanded within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. It reflects the liturgical use of prophetic books and the development of penitential practices. The text's expansions, such as added crops and communal rituals, illustrate the inculturation of biblical material into Ethiopic Christian tradition. It also provides evidence for the transmission of the Septuagint in Ethiopia and the textual fluidity of biblical manuscripts in the Geʿez tradition.","timeline":[{"date":"5th–4th c. BCE","event":"Probable composition of the Hebrew original of Joel (post-exilic period)."},{"date":"3rd–2nd c. BCE","event":"Translation of Joel into Greek (Septuagint)."},{"date":"5th–14th c.","event":"Translation of Joel from Septuagint into Geʿez, likely within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church."},{"date":"14th c.","event":"Earliest extant manuscript evidence for the Geʿez Book of Joel."},{"date":"Ongoing","event":"Liturgical use of Joel in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church during Tsome Nebiyat."}],"relations":[{"work":"Septuagint (Greek Old Testament)","relation":"Source text for the Geʿez translation","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Ethiopic Octateuch and minor prophets corpus","relation":"Part of the same manuscript tradition","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets","relation":"Joel is one of the twelve","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Tsome Nebiyat (Fast of the Prophets)","relation":"Liturgical context for reading Joel","key":"","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[],"cautions":["The date of the Geʿez translation is uncertain; it may have been produced anytime between the 5th and 14th centuries.","The original Hebrew date of Joel is disputed; modern scholarship often places it in the post-exilic period (5th–4th c. BCE), but traditional dating is late 9th–8th c. BCE.","This edition lacks a critical apparatus, so textual fluidity and variant readings cannot be assessed."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.000514,"generated":"2026-11-15T00:56:58Z"},"checks":{"work":"LIT1689Joel","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":10,"translated":10,"commentary_passages":10,"commentary_units":59,"english_words":2089,"source_letters":4866,"commentary_kinds":8},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Geʿez text of Joel in betmas:LIT1689Joel follows the standard twelve-minor-prophets order, with superscription identifying the prophet as son of Pethuel.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The book is traditionally dated to the late 9th–8th century BCE, but modern scholarship often places it in the post-exilic period (5th–4th c. BCE). The Geʿez version reflects a later translation from the Septuagint.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Geʿez text is transmitted as part of the broader Ethiopic Octateuch and minor prophets corpus, with manuscript evidence from the 14th century onward.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Joel is read liturgically in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church during the season of Tsome Nebiyat (Fast of the Prophets) and cited in homilies on repentance and the Day of the Lord.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"This edition (betmas:LIT1689Joel) does not include a critical apparatus or variant readings from other Ethiopic manuscripts, so textual fluidity cannot be assessed.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation could be identified: a language model asked twice could not name one, though it could not rule one out either. That is not proof that none exists — translations in dissertations, recent books and other modern languages are easily missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: other in Geʿez; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 10 narrative."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: betmas — CC BY-SA 4.0 (per file); site footer states NC-SA - treat as NC"}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":10},"term_index":[],"citations":{"betmas:LIT1689Joel":{"label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"},"ed:LIT1689Joel":{"label":"source edition: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"Text of the EOTC printed Bible\n\nChapter 1\n\nቃለ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ዘኮነ፡ ኀበ፡ ኢዩኤል፡ ወልደ፡ ባቱኤል።\n\nስምዑ፡ ዘንተ፡ ሊቃውንት፡ ወአጽምዑ፡ ኮልክሙ፡ እለ፡ ትነብሩ፡ ውስተ፡ ምድር፡ ለእመ፡ ከዊነ፡ ኮነ፡ ከመዝ፡ በመዋዕሊክሙ፡ ወበመዋዕለ፡ አበዊክሙ።\n\nከመ፡ ትንግሩ፡ ለደቂቅክ፡ ወደቂቅክሙ፡ ለደቂቆሙ፡ ወደቂቆሙኒ፡ ለለካእ፡ ትውልድ።\n\nዘአትረፈ፡ ዕፄ፡ በልዐ፡ አንበጣ፡ ወዘአትረፈ፡ አንበጣ፡ ለበልዐ፡ ደጎብያ። ወዘአትረፈ፡ ደጎብያ፡ በልዐ፡ አናኩዕ።\n\nንዝሁ፡ እለ፡ ትሰትዩ፡ ወይነ፡ ብክዩ፡ ወላሕዉ፡ ኩልክሙ፡ እለ፡ ትሰትይዎ፡ ለወይን፡ ለስካር፡ እስመ፡ ትስዕረ፡ ኃሤት፡ ዋፍስሐ፡ እምአፋክሙ።\n\nእስመ፡ ዐርጉ፡ አሕዛብ፡ ውስተ፡ ምድር፡ ክመሙ፡ ጽንዓን፡ ወአልቦሙ፡ ኁለወቄ፡ ስነኒሆሙ፡ ስናን፡ አናብስት፡ ወኲርናዓቲሆሙ፡ ዘእጓለ፡ አንበሳ።\n\nረሰይዎ፡ ምድረ፡ ለወይንየ፡ ወሰበሩ፡ በለስየ፡ ወኀሠሡ፡ ወፈተኑ፡ ወገደፋ፡ በዘ፡ አፃዕደወት፡ አዕጹቂሃ።","english":"The Word of the Lord that came to Joel, son of Pethuel.\n\nHear this, O elders, and give ear, all of you who dwell in the land, if it has happened thus in your times and in the times of your fathers.\n\nAs you recount to your children, and your children to their children, and their children to the following generation.\n\nWhat the tree left, the locust devoured; and what the locust left, the caterpillar devoured; and what the caterpillar left, the worm devoured.\n\nNow, you who drink wine, weep and lament, all of you who drink wine for intoxication, for the drought has dried up the joy from your mouths.\n\nFor the nations have entered the land like a swarm, and they have no compassion; their teeth are like the teeth of lions, and their nails are like the claws of lions.\n\nThey have laid waste the land of my vineyard, and they have broken my fig trees, and they have cut down and destroyed and cast down, and they have stripped the branches of its shoots.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage opens with a superscription identifying the work as 'the word of the Lord that came to Joel, son of Pethuel', a formula typical of prophetic books in the Geʿez tradition.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ኢዩኤል","severity":"info","text":"The name 'Joel' (ኢዩኤል) is the Geʿez form of the Hebrew יוֹאֵל, meaning 'Yahweh is God'. The patronymic 'son of Pethuel' (ወልደ፡ ባቱኤል) follows the biblical text (Joel 1:1).","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of successive plagues (locust, caterpillar, worm) reflects a common motif in Ethiopian agricultural and liturgical contexts, where such imagery is used to evoke divine judgment.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'the nations have entered the land like a swarm' echoes Joel 1:6, where an invading army is compared to locusts, though the Geʿez text here expands the imagery with lion-like teeth and claws.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"In the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, the Book of Joel is read during the season of Lent as part of the prophetic readings, and its agricultural imagery is interpreted allegorically as spiritual desolation.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Geʿez text does not specify whether the 'nations' (አሕዛብ) are literal foreign invaders or a metaphorical swarm of locusts; the translation opts for a literal reading."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"ብኪ፡ ሊተ፡ በእንተ፡ መርዓት፡ እንተ፡ ቀነተት፡ ሠቀ፡ በእንተ፡ ምታ፡ ዘእምድናግልናሃ።\n\nተሥዕት፡ ወሞጻሕት፡ እምቤተ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ላሕው፡ ካህናት፡ እለ፡ ትገብሩ፡ መስዋዕተ።\n\nእስመ፡ ኀስራ፡ ገራውህ፡ ወትላሑ፡ ምድር፡ እስመ፡ ኀስረ፡ እክል፡ ወየብሰ፡ ዋይን፡ ወጥፍአ፡ ዘይት።\n\nተኅፍሩ፡ ሓረስት፡ ወበከዩ፡ ዓቀብተ፡ ወይን፡ በእንተ፡ ስርናይ፡ ወሰገም፡ እስመ፡ ጠፍአ፡ ማእረር፡ እምገራውህ።\n\nወየብሰ፡ ወይን፡ ወኅልቀ፡ በለስ፡ ሮማን፡ ወትምርት፡ ወኮል፡ ወኰሉ፡ አቅማሐ፡ ገዳም፡ የብሰ፡ ወተኀፍረ፡ ፍስሀሆሙ፡ ለደቂቀ፡ እጓለ፡ እመሕያው።\n\nላሕዉ፡ ወቅንቱ፡ ሠቀ፡ ካህናት፡ ወብክ፡ እለ፡ ትሠውዑ፡ መስዋዕተ፡ ሖሩ፡ ስክቡ፡ ውስተ፡ ሠቅ፡ እለ፡ ትሰውዑ፡ ለእግዚአብሔር፡ እስመ፡ ኀልቀ፡ መስዋዕት፡ ወሞጾህት፡ እምቤተ፡ እግዚአብሔር።\n\nቀድሱ፡ ጾመ፡ ወስብኩ፡ ምህላላ፡ ስተጋብኡ፡ ሊቃውነተ፡ ወኲሎ፡ ዘይነብር፡ ውስተ፡ ምድር፡ ውስተ፡ ቤተ፡ አምላክነ፡ ወጽርሑ፡ ኀበ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ኀቡረ።","english":"children, tell them to their children, and to their children's children, that they may know the calamity that has befallen the land. Weep for the bride who was betrothed, because of the plague that has come upon her from her youth. The sacrifices and offerings have ceased from the house of the Lord. Woe to you, priests, who offer the sacrifice! For the fields have become barren, and the land is parched; for the grain has failed, the vine has dried up, and the oil has perished. The farmers are ashamed, and the vintners weep because of the locust and the worm, for the harvest has perished from the fields. The vine has dried up, and the fig, the pomegranate, the date palm, and all the trees of the forest have withered, and the joy of the children of men has ceased. Woe and alas to you, priests, who offer the sacrifice! Go, put on sackcloth, you who offer to the Lord, for the sacrifice and the offerings have ceased from the house of the Lord. Proclaim a fast and spread ashes; gather the elders and all who dwell in the land into the house of our God, and cry out together to the Lord.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ብኪ፡ ሊተ፡ በእንተ፡ መርዓት፡","severity":"info","text":"The passage opens with a lament for a bride, a motif not present in the biblical Book of Joel, marking this as an expansion characteristic of the Ethiopic tradition.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ሠቅ፡","severity":"info","text":"The Geʿez term ሠቅ፡ (śaq) means 'sackcloth', a garment of mourning or penance, consistent with the call to repentance in the biblical Joel but here elaborated with ritual detail.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ተኅፍሩ፡ ሓረስት፡","severity":"info","text":"The lament over barren fields and withered vines echoes Joel 1:10–12, but the Ethiopic text adds specific crops (fig, pomegranate, date palm) not in the Hebrew original.","cites":[{"key":"ed:LIT1689Joel","label":"source edition: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ሞጻሕት፡","severity":"info","text":"The term ሞጻሕት፡ (moṣāḥt) refers to offerings, likely a Geʿez technical term for sacrificial gifts, indicating a developed liturgical vocabulary in the Ethiopic church.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ቀድሱ፡ ጾመ፡","severity":"info","text":"The command to 'proclaim a fast and spread ashes' reflects later Ethiopic Christian penitential practice, adapting the biblical call to repentance into a communal ritual.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"እስመ፡ ኀስራ፡ ገራውህ፡","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'for the fields have become barren' may be a scribal expansion; the Geʿez text here diverges from the Masoretic and Septuagint traditions, and the precise source of the addition is uncertain.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Geʿez text includes a lament for a bride (መርዓት፡) whose plague is not clearly identified; the English draft interprets it as a metaphor for the land, but the Geʿez may refer to a specific allegorical figure.","The phrase 'from her youth' (እምድናግልናሃ።) is ambiguous: it could mean the bride has been afflicted since youth, or that the plague began in the land's early history."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":3,"ref":"p3","source":"አሌሊተ፡ አሌሊተ፡ ይእተ፡ ዕለተ፡ እስመ፡ አልጸቀት፡ ዕለት፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ዋካማዝ፡ እምነ፡ መቅሠፍት፡ ውስተ፡ መቅሠፍት፡ ይመጽእ።\n\nበቅድመ፡ አዕይንቲክሙ፡ ይጠፍእ፡ እክል፡ እምቤተ፡ አምላክክሙ፡ ፍስሐ፡ ወኃሴት።\n\nእጎልት፡ በውስተ፡ ኀዝአቶን፡ ጠፍአ፡ ወኀልቁ፡ መዛግብት፡ ወተነስቱ፡ ምክያዳት፡ እስመ፡ ብሰ፡ እክል።\n\nምንተ፡ እንከ፡ ንሠይም፡ ነ፡ በከዩ፡ አዕዳደ፡ ላሕም፡ እስመ፡ ኀልቀ፡ መርዔቶሙ፡ ወጠፍአ፡ መራዕየ፡ አባግዕ።\n\nኀቤከ፡ እግዚኦ፡ እጸርሕ፡ እስመ፡ እሳት፡ አኀለቀ፡ ስነ፡ ገዳም፡ ወነበልባል፡ አውዐየ፡ ዕፀ፡ ዖእዋም።\n\nወአንቃዕደዉ፡ ኀቤከ፡ እንስሳ፡ ሐቅል፡ እስመ፡ የብስ፡ አንቅዕተ፡ ማያት፡ ወበልዐት፡ እሳት፡ ስነ፡ ገዳም።\n\nChapter 2\n\nንፍኁ፡ ቀርነ፡ በጽዩን፡ ወስብኩ፡ በደብረ፡ መቅደስየ፡ ወይደንግፁ፡ ኲሎሙ፡ እለ፡ ይነብሩ፡ ውስተ፡ ምድር፡ እስመ፡ በጽሐት፡ ዕለተ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ወአልጸቀት።\n\nዕለተ፡ ጽልመት፡ ወዐውሎ፡ ዕለተ፡ ደመና፡ ወጊሜ፡ ከመ፡ ጎሕ፡ ይዘረዉ፡ ሕዝብ፡ ዙኅ፡ ውስተ፡ አድባር፡ ወጽኑዕ፡ ዘኢኮነ፡ ካማሁ፡ እምፍጥት፡ ዓም፡ ወኢይደግም፡ እንከ፡ እምድኀሬሁ፡ እስከ፡ ዓመተ፡ ትውልደ፡ ትልድ።","english":"Alas! Alas! This is the day, for the day of the Lord has drawn near. Woe to us from the plague, from plague to plague it will come.\n\nBefore your eyes, the offering will vanish from the house of your God—joy and gladness.\n\nThe rams in their pastures have vanished, and the herds have perished, and the meadows have dried up, for the flesh of the offering is gone.\n\nWhat then shall we do? We have placed our hands on the cattle, for their pasture has perished and the grazing of the sheep has vanished.\n\nTo you, O Lord, I cry out, for fire has consumed the beauty of the wilderness, and the flame has burned the trees of the forest.\n\nAnd the beasts of the field groan to you, for the springs of water have dried up, and fire has devoured the beauty of the wilderness.\n\nChapter 2\n\nBlow the horn in Zion, and proclaim on my holy mountain, and let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord has arrived and drawn near.\n\nA day of darkness and gloom, a day of cloud and mist, like ashes the multitude of people will be scattered among the mountains, and a strong one who was like him has not been seen from the beginning of the year, nor will he be seen again after him until the year of the generation to come.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"አሌሊተ፡ አሌሊተ፡","severity":"info","text":"The repeated interjection 'Alas! Alas!' (አሌሊተ) intensifies the lament, a common feature in Geʿez penitential and prophetic literature.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ዕለተ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'day of the Lord' (ዕለተ እግዚአብሔር) is a technical eschatological term in Geʿez tradition, denoting divine judgment or intervention.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ንፍኁ፡ ቀርነ፡ በጽዩን፡","severity":"info","text":"The command 'Blow the horn in Zion' (ንፍኁ ቀርነ በጽዩን) echoes Joel 2:1, where the shofar signals the day of the Lord, though the Geʿez text expands with local imagery.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"መቅሠፍት፡","severity":"info","text":"The term 'plague' (መቅሠፍት) in Geʿez often refers to divine punishment, possibly locusts or pestilence, reflecting the historical context of agricultural crisis in Joel.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"Chapter 2","severity":"info","text":"The passage marks a structural shift with 'Chapter 2' (በጽዩን), transitioning from lament to a prophetic call to action, typical of Geʿez biblical manuscripts.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ዘኢኮነ፡ ካማሁ፡","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'a strong one who was like him' (ዘኢኮነ ካማሁ) is ambiguous; it may refer to a messianic figure or a lost leader, but the text is unclear.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'the strong one' (ዘኢኮነ ካማሁ) is uncertain; it could be a messianic figure or a historical leader.","The transition from lament to prophecy in Chapter 2 may reflect a composite text, but the Geʿez tradition treats it as a unified work."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":4,"ref":"p4","source":"ፈብጽምሂ፡ እሳት፡ ይበልዕ፡ ወበከዋላሂ፡ ያውዒ፡ ነበልባል። ከመ፡ ገነተ፡ ትፍሥሕት፡ ምድር፡ ቀዳሚሁ፡ ወይገብዕ፡ ድኀሬሁ፡ ከመ፡ በድወ፡ ሐሩር፡ ወአልቦ፡ ዘያመስጥ፡ እምኔሁ።\n\nከመ፡ ገጸ፡ ፈረስ፡ ገጾሙ፡ ወረዋጽያን፡ ከመ፡ አፍራስ።\n\nወከመ፡ ድምፅ፡ ሠረገላ፡ ውስተ፡ አርእስተ፡ አድባር፡ ይሜርዱ፡ ወከመ፤ደምፀ፡ ነበልባ፡ እንተ፡ ትበልዕ፡ ብርዐ፡ ወከመ፡ ሠራዊት፡ ብዙኃን፡ ዋጽኑዓን፡ እለ፡ ይታቃተሉ፡ ውስተ፡ መራድ።\n\nወይትቀጠቀጡ፡ አሕዛብ፡ እምቅድመ፡ ገጹ፡ ወይከውን፡ ገጸ፡ ወይከውን፡ ገጸ፡ ኲሎሙ፡ ከመ፡ ላሽበ፡ መቅጹት።\n\nወይረውጹ፡ ከመ፡ መስተቃላን፡ ዋካማ፡ ዕደው፡ ተባዕያን፡ የዐርጉ፡ አረፍተ፡ ወኲሎሙ፡ እንከ፡ የሐውሩ፡ በፍኖቶሙ፡ ወኢይትገሐሱ፡ እምፍኖቶሙ።\n\nወኢይትራኀቁ፡ አሐዱ፡ እምካኡ፡ ጽውራኒሆሙ፡ ንዋየ፡ ሐቅሎሙ፡ ይረውጹ፡ ዋያኀልቁ፡ በሐዖሙ።\n\nወያስተጋብኡ፡ አህጉረ፡ ወይረውጹ፡ ዲበ፡ አረፍት፡ ወየዐርጉ፡ ውስተ፡ አብያ፡ ወይበውኡ፡ እንተ፡ መሳክው፡ ከመ፡ ሰረቅት።","english":"Fire will consume, and after it, flame will roar like a garden of joy; the earth before it, and it will burn behind it like a dry furnace, and there is none who can escape from it.\n\nTheir faces are like the face of a horse, and they are swift like horses.\n\nAnd like the sound of a chariot upon the tops of the mountains they descend, and like the blood of a flame that consumes the cold, and like many armies, strong ones who fight in the plain.\n\nAnd the peoples will tremble before his face, and his face will become, and the face of all of them will become like the color of a pomegranate.\n\nAnd they will flee like adversaries; the wild beasts, the males, will ascend the heights, and all of them will go on their paths, and they will not turn aside from their paths.\n\nAnd one will not be separated from another; their necks, the goods of their fields, they will flee, and they will be lost in their lives.\n\nAnd they will gather the cities, and they will flee upon the heights, and they will ascend into the houses, and they will break through the walls like thieves.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage describes a series of apocalyptic disasters: fire and flame consuming the land, followed by images of horse-faced beings, chariot-like sounds, and armies. The peoples tremble, flee, and hide, but none can escape.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ፈብጽምሂ","severity":"info","text":"The Geʿez word 'ፈብጽምሂ' (fäbṣəməḥi) is a hapax legomenon in this context, likely meaning 'fire' or 'flame' as part of a compound or variant form, though its exact derivation is uncertain.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ከመ ገጸ ፈረስ ገጾሙ","severity":"info","text":"The description of beings with faces like horses (ከመ ገጸ ፈረስ ገጾሙ) echoes apocalyptic imagery found in the Book of Revelation (e.g., locusts with human faces) and in Ethiopic apocalyptic traditions, though no direct citation is given.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The imagery of fire, flame, and fleeing to heights and houses reflects common themes in Ethiopic apocalyptic literature, often associated with divine judgment and the Day of the Lord, as seen in the broader context of the Book of Joel.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage is part of a narrative section (as classified from Coptic cues) that builds a series of vivid, parallel similes (e.g., 'like the sound of a chariot,' 'like the blood of a flame') to intensify the apocalyptic tone.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ወይከውን ገጸ ወይከውን ገጸ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'ወይከውን ገጸ ወይከውን ገጸ' (and his face will become, and the face of all of them will become) appears redundant or possibly corrupt; the English draft smooths it, but the Geʿez may reflect a textual error or scribal repetition.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of the horse-faced beings is unclear; they may be demonic or angelic figures in an apocalyptic vision.","The phrase 'ከመ ደምፀ ነበልባ' (like the blood of a flame) is ambiguous: it could mean 'like the blood of a flame' or be a metaphor for a fiery red color.","The repetition of 'ወይከውን ገጸ' may indicate a textual corruption or an intentional emphasis on transformation."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":5,"ref":"p5","source":"ወትደነግፅ፡ ምድር፡ እምቅድመ፡ ገጾሙ፡ ወታድለቀልቅ፡ ሰማይ፡ ወትጸልም፡ ፀሐይ፡ ወወርኀ፡ ወትጠፍእ፡ ብርሃኖሙ፡ ለከመዋክብት።\n\nወይሁብ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ቃሎ፡ ቅድመ፡ ገጸ፡ ኀይሉ፡ እስመ፡ ብዙኀ፡ ፈድፋደ፡ ትዕይንቱ፡ ወጽኑዑ፡ ምግባረ፡ ቃሉ፡ እስመ፡ ዓባይ፡ እለተ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ወግርመት፡ ወታስተርኢ፡ ፈድፋደ፡ ወምንት፡ መጠና፡ መኑ፡ ይክላ።\n\nይእዜኒ፡ ይቤ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ አምላክ፡ ተመየጡ፡ ኀቤየ፡ በኲሉ፡ ልብክሙ፡ በጾም፡ ወበላሕ፡ ወበብካይ።\n\nወሥጥጡ፡ ልበክሙ፡ ወአኮ፡ አልባሲክሙ፡ ወተመየጡ፡ ኀበ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ አምላክክሙ፡ እስመ፡ መሐሪ፡ ወመስተሣህል፡ ውእቱ፡ ርኁቀ፡ መዐት፡ ወብዙኀ፡ ምሕረት፡ ወይኔስሕ፡ በእንተ፡ እኪት።\n\nመኑ፡ የአምር፡ እመ፡ ይትመየጥ፡ ወይኔስሕ፡ ወያተርፍ፡ ድኀሬሁ፡ በረከተ፡ ወመሥዋዕተ፡ ወሞጻሕተ፡ ለእግዚአብሔር፡ አምላክነ።\n\nንፍኁ፡ ቀርነ፡ በጽዩን፡ ቀድሱ፡ ጾመ፡ ወስበኩ፡ ምህልላ።\n\nአስተብኡ፡ ሕዝበ፡ ዋቃድሱ፡ ማኀበረክሙ፡ ኀርዩ፡ ሊቃውነተ፡ አስተጋብኡ፡ ሕፃናተ፡ እለ፡ ይጠብዉ፡ ጥበ፡ ይፃእ፡ መርዓዊ፡ እምጽርሑ፡ ወመርዓት፡ እመንጦላዕታ።","english":"And the earth will tremble before their faces, and the sky will be shattered, and the sun and moon will be darkened, and their light will be extinguished like the stars.\n\nAnd the Lord will give His word before the face of His power, for His wonder is exceedingly great, and the deed of His word is mighty, for the day of the Lord is great and terrible, and it will show forth exceedingly, and what is its measure? Who can endure?\n\nNow, says the Lord God, \"Repent to Me with all your heart, with fasting, and with weeping, and with lamentation.\n\nAnd rend your hearts, and tear your garments, and repent to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and forgiving, far from wrath and abundant in mercy, and He will forgive evil.\n\nWho knows if one repents and is forgiven and remains behind him in blessing and sacrifice and offering to the Lord our God?\n\nBlow the horn in Zion, sanctify a fast, and proclaim a festival.\n\nSummon the people, sanctify your assembly, appoint the elders, gather the children who suckle milk; the bridegroom will come forth from his chamber, and the bride from her bridal canopy.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ወትደነግፅ ምድር","severity":"info","text":"The earth trembling before the faces of the divine army continues the apocalyptic imagery of the previous passage, emphasizing cosmic upheaval.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ትዕይንቱ","severity":"info","text":"The Geʿez term ትዕይንቱ (taʿyǝntu) means 'his wonder' or 'his sign,' here referring to the miraculous and terrifying manifestation of divine power.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ወይሁብ እግዚአብሔር ቃሎ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'the Lord will give His word' echoes the prophetic formula common in Joel and other minor prophets, introducing a divine oracle.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"በጾም ወበላሕ፡ ወበብካይ","severity":"info","text":"The call to repentance with fasting, weeping, and lamentation reflects the traditional Ethiopic penitential practices, often associated with the season of Nineveh.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ንፍኁ ቀርነ በጽዩን","severity":"info","text":"The imperative 'Blow the horn in Zion' marks a shift from descriptive prophecy to liturgical instruction, structuring the passage as a call to communal action.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ሕፃናተ እለ ይጠብዉ ጥበ","severity":"info","text":"The inclusion of nursing infants in the summons to assembly is distinctive; in Ethiopic tradition, this underscores the universal call to repentance, even for the youngest.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'ወትደነግፅ ምድር' could be read as 'the earth will tremble' or 'the earth will be shaken,' but the sense of cosmic disturbance is clear.","The identity of 'their faces' (ገጾሙ) is ambiguous; it likely refers to the divine or angelic forces from the previous passage, but the text does not specify."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":6,"ref":"p6","source":"ወይብክከየ፡ ካህነት፡ እ፡ ላይሠውዑ፡ ለእግዚአብሔር፡ በማእከለ፡ አቅርንተ፡ መስዋዕ፡ ወይበሉ፡ መሐክ፡ እግዚኦ፡ ሕዝበከ፡ ወኢታኀስር፡ ርስተከ፡ ከመ፡ ኢይንፅኅዎሙ፡ አሕዛብ፡ ዋካማ፡ ኢይበሉ፡ አሕዛብ፡ አይቴ፡ ውእቱ፡ አምላኮሙ።\n\nወቀንአ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ለምድሩ፡ ወመሐኮሙ፡ ለሕዝቡ።\n\nወተሠጥዎሙ፡ እግዚብሔር፡ ወይቤሎሙ፡ ለሕዝቡ፡ ናሁ፡ እነ፡ እፌኑ፡ ለክሙ፡ እክለ፡ ወወይነ፡ ወዘይተ፡ ወትጸግቡ፡ ወኢይሬስየክሙ፡ ጽዕለተ፡ ለአህዛብ።\n\nወእሰድዶሙ፡ እምኔክሙ፡ ለእለ፡ መንገለ፡ ደብብ፡ ወእሰድዶሙ፡ ውስተ፡ ምድር፡ በድው፡ ወአጠፍኦሙ፡ ፍጽሞሙ፡ ውስተ፡ ቀዳሚት፡ ባሕር፡ ወየዐርግ፡ ጺአቱ፡ ወየዐርግ፡ ንስሐቱ፡ እስመ፡ አዕበየ፡ ምግባሮ።\n\nተአመኒ፡ ምድር፡ ወተፈሥሒ፡ ወተኀሠዩ፡ እስመ፡ አዕበየ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ከከመ፡ ይገበር።\n\nተአመኑ፡ እንስሳ፡ ገዳም፡ እስመ፡ ብዕላ፡ አሕቃላተ፡ በድው፡ ወፈርየ፡ ዕፅ፡ ወወይን፡ ወበለስ፡ ዋሀቡ፡ ኃይሎሙ።\n\nተፈስሑ፡ ወተኀሠዩ፡ በእግዚአብሔር፡ አምላክክሙ፡ ደቂቀ፡ ጽዩን፡ እስመ፡ ወሀበክሙ፡ ሲሳየ፡ ጽድቅ፡ ወያዘንመ፡ ላክሙ፡ ጸደየ፡ ወመጸወ፡ ከመ፡ ትካት።","english":"And the priesthood will weep, saying, “We have no one to offer to the Lord in the midst of the altar of sacrifice.” And they will say, “Lord, your people are destitute, and your inheritance is not diminished, as the nations do not plunder them.” And the nations will say, “Where is their God?”\n\nAnd the Lord was jealous for his land and for his people, who were destitute.\n\nAnd the Lord sent for them and said to his people, “Behold, I will give you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied, and the plundering of the nations will not harm you.\n\nAnd I will drive away from you those who are on the side of the beast, and I will drive them into the desert land, and I will destroy them utterly in the Red Sea. And his smoke will rise, and his repentance will rise, for his deeds are great.\n\nTrust, O land, and rejoice and be glad, for the Lord is great in what he does.\n\nTrust, O wild animals, for the abundance of the fields in the desert, and the fruit of the tree, and the vine, and the fig have given their strength.\n\nRejoice and be glad in the Lord, your God, O children of Zion, for he has given you the food of righteousness, and he will send you spring and summer like a garment.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ወይብክከየ ካህነት","severity":"info","text":"The priesthood weeps because they have no offering to present at the altar, a motif of cultic crisis that reverses the expected role of priests as mediators of sacrifice.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"መሐክ","severity":"info","text":"The Geʿez term መሐክ (maḥakk) means 'destitute' or 'impoverished,' here describing the people's material and spiritual lack, a key condition that prompts divine intervention.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ቀዳሚት ባሕር","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'Red Sea' (ቀዳሚት ባሕር) echoes Exodus traditions of divine deliverance through water, here as a site where enemies are destroyed utterly.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ወይበሉ አሕዛብ አይቴ ውእቱ አምላኮሙ","severity":"info","text":"The nations' taunt 'Where is their God?' parallels Psalm 42:2 (LXX 41:3) and reflects a common motif of Gentile mockery of Israel's divine protection.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ተአመኒ ምድር ወተፈሥሒ","severity":"info","text":"A series of imperatives ('Trust, O land, and rejoice') shifts the passage from lament to exhortation, marking a structural turn toward restoration and confidence in divine power.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"ደቂቀ ጽዩን","severity":"info","text":"The address 'children of Zion' (ደቂቀ ጽዩን) is a standard Ethiopic Christian designation for the faithful community, linking the passage to liturgical and homiletic use in the Ethiopian tradition.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'his smoke will rise, and his repentance will rise' (የዐርግ ጺአቱ ወየዐርግ ንስሐቱ) is obscure; it may refer to the aftermath of the enemy's destruction or to a ritual purification, but the text does not clarify the referent of 'his.'"],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":7,"ref":"p7","source":"ወይመልዕ፡ ዐውደ፡ እክል፡ ወይትከዐው፡ ምክያደ፡ ወይን፡ ወዘይት።\n\nወእፈድየክሙ፡ ህየንተ፡ ዓመት፡ ዘበልዓ፡ አንበጣ፡ ወዕፄ፡ ወዳጎብያ፡ ወአናኲዕ፡ ኃይልየ፡ ዘፈነውኩ፡ ላዕሌክሙ።\n\nወተሴሰዩ፡ ወብልዑ፡ ወጽገቡ፡ ወሰበሑ፡ ስመ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ አምላክነ፡ ስመ፡ ገብረ፡ ለክሙ፡ መንክረ፡ ወኢይትኀፈሩ፡ እንከ፡ ሕዝብየ፡ ለዓለም።\n\nወተአምሩ፡ እከ፡ ከመከ፡ ሀሎኩ፡ አነ፡ ማእከለ፡ እስራኤል፡ ወአነ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ አምላክክሙ፡ ወአልቦ፡ ባዕደ፡ ዘእንቤለየ፡ ወኢይትኀፈሩ፡ እንከ፡ ሕዝብየ፡ ለዓለም።\n\nወእምድኅረ፡ ዝንቱ፡ አክዑ፡ እምነ፡ መንፈስየ፡ ላዕለከ፡ ኲሉ፡ ዘስጋ፡ ወይትኔበዩ፡ ደቂቅክሙ፡ ወአዋድክሙ፡ ወሊቃውንቲክሙኒ፡ ሕልመ፡ የሐለወሙ፡ ወወራሲትክሙ፡ ራእየ፡ ይሬእዩ።\n\nወላዕለ፡ አግብርትየ፡ ወላዕለ፡ አእማትየ፡ ይእተ፡ አሚረ፡ እክኡ፡ እምነ፡ መንፈስየ።\n\nወእገብር፡ ተአምረ፡ በሰማይ፡ በላእሌ፡ ወበምድር፡ በታሕቱ፡ ደመ፡ ወእሳተ፡ ወተነ፡ ጢስ።\n\nፀሐይኒ፡ ይጸልም፡ ወወርኅኒ፡ ደመ፡ ይከውን፡ ዝንበለ፡ ትብጻሕ፡ ዕለተ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ዓባይ፡ እንተ፡ ታስተርኢ።","english":"And the measure of the grain will be diminished, and the wine and the oil will be diminished.\n\nAnd I will send forth the locust of the year that devours, and the caterpillar, and the weevil, and the cankerworm, my force which I have sent against you.\n\nAnd they will be gathered and they will devour and they will gnaw and they will destroy in the name of the Lord God, in the name of Gabra, for you a wonder, and my people will not be ashamed forever.\n\nAnd they will marvel, saying, “How is it that I was in the midst of Israel, and I am the Lord your God, and there is no other besides me?” And my people will not be ashamed forever.\n\nAnd after this, I will pour out from my spirit upon you all that is flesh, and your children and your descendants and your elders will dream dreams, and your heirs will see visions.\n\nAnd upon my servants and upon my maidservants, this I will say: “I will pour out from my spirit.”\n\nAnd I will perform a wonder in the heaven above and on the earth below: blood and fire and smoke and dust.\n\nThe sun will be darkened, and the moon will become blood, before the great day of the Lord arrives, which is to be revealed.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the divine speech begun in the previous passage, with the Lord describing a series of plagues and wonders.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"እክል","severity":"info","text":"The Geʿez term እክል (ʾəkl) means 'grain' or 'produce,' here referring to the harvest that is diminished.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ገብረ","severity":"info","text":"The name ገብረ (Gabra) is a proper noun, likely a variant of 'Gabriel' or a divine epithet, though its exact referent is unclear.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of the sun darkened and the moon turning to blood echoes Joel 2:31 (LXX) and is a common apocalyptic motif in Ethiopic literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:LIT1689Joel","label":"source edition: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The list of pests (locust, caterpillar, weevil, cankerworm) reflects agricultural concerns in the Horn of Africa, where such plagues were historically devastating.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'in the name of Gabra' is ambiguous; it may be a scribal error or a reference to an angelic figure, but the text does not clarify.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'Gabra' is uncertain; it may be a corruption or a unique epithet.","The phrase 'my people will not be ashamed forever' is repeated, but its exact theological import is unclear."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":8,"ref":"p8","source":"ወኲሉ፡ ዘጸውዐ፡ ህቋ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ይድኅን። እስመ፡ በውስተ፡ ደብረ፡ ጽዩን፡ ወኢየሩሳሌም፡ ይድኅኑ፡ በከመ፡ ይቤ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ውለ፡ ይሜህሩ፡ እለ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ጸውዖሙ።\n\nChapter 3\n\nእስመ፡ ይእተ፡ አሚረ፡ አነ፡ በእማንቱ፡ መዋዕል፡ እመይጥ፡ ፄዋ፡ ይሁዳ፡ ወኢየሩሳሌም።\n\nወአስተጋብኦሙ፡ ለኲሉ፡ አሕዛብ፡ ዋኣዋርዶሙ፡ ቆላት፡ ዩሳፍጥ፡ ወእትዋቀሦሙ፡ በሕየ፡ በእንተ፡ ሕዝብየ፡ ወበእንተ፡ ርስትየ፡ እስራኤል፡ በኀበ፡ ተዘርዉ፡ ውስተ፡ ኣሕዛብ፡ ወተካፈሉ፡ ምድርየ።\n\nወተዐጸዉ፡ ዲበ፡ ሕዝብየ፡ ወወሀቡ፡ ደቂቆሙ፡ ለዘማት፡ ወሤጡ፡ አዋዲሆሙ፡ ለወይን፡ ወሰትዩ።\n\nምንተ፡ ብየ፡ ምስሌክን፡ ጢሮስ፡ ወዲዶና፡ ወኲሉ፡ ገሊላ፡ ዘኢሎፍሊ፡ በቀለኑ፡ ትትቤቀላኒ፡ ወቂመኑ፡ ትትቀየማኒ፡ ፍጡነ፡ ወጉጉአ፡ እፈድየክሙ፡ ርእስክመሙ።\n\nናሁ፡ ነሳእክሙ፡ ወርቅየ፡ ወብሩርየ፡ ወዓስራትየ፡ ወመሠንዩ፡ አባእክሙ፡ ቤተክሙ።\n\nወሤጥክምዎሙ፡ ለደቂቀ፡ ይሁዳ፡ ወለደቂቀ፡ እየሩሳሌም፡ ኀበ፡ ደቂቀ፡ አረሚ፡ ከመ፡ ታጥፍእዎሙ፡ እምብሔሮሙ።","english":"And all whom the Lord has called will be saved, for in Mount Zion and Jerusalem they will be saved, as the Lord said: \"My children will hasten, those whom the Lord has called.\"\n\nChapter 3\n\nFor I am about to complete in those days the remnant of Judah and Jerusalem.\n\nAnd I will gather all the nations and lead them into the valleys of Jehoshaphat, and I will judge them there concerning my people and concerning my inheritance Israel, where they were scattered among the nations and my land was divided.\n\nAnd they oppressed my people and gave their children to the sword and hid their vessels of wine and drank.\n\nWhat have I done to you, Tyre and Sidon and all Galilee of the Philistines? You have plundered me, and you have risen against me. Quickly and swiftly I will cut off your heads.\n\nBehold, I have taken my gold and my silver and my tithe, and you have brought my enemies into your house.\n\nAnd I have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the children of the Arabs, so that they might destroy them from their land.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"Chapter 3","severity":"info","text":"The Geʿez text marks a chapter division here, but the source edition (betmas) does not indicate a chapter 3 in the canonical Book of Joel. This likely reflects a secondary expansion or a different textual tradition.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ወአስተጋብኦሙ፡ ለኲሉ፡ አሕዛብ፡ ዋኣዋርዶሙ፡ ቆላት፡ ዩሳፍጥ፡","severity":"info","text":"The Valley of Jehoshaphat (ቆላት ዩሳፍጥ) is traditionally identified with the Kidron Valley near Jerusalem, associated in later Jewish and Christian tradition with the location of the final judgment. This reference is not found in the canonical Book of Joel.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ወሤጥክምዎሙ፡ ለደቂቀ፡ ይሁዳ፡ ወለደቂቀ፡ እየሩሳሌም፡ ኀበ፡ ደቂቀ፡ አረሚ፡","severity":"caution","text":"The sale of Judean and Jerusalem children to Arabs is a motif absent from the biblical Joel. It may reflect later Ethiopic concerns about slave trade or inter-ethnic conflict, possibly from the Aksumite or medieval period.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ጢሮስ","severity":"info","text":"ጢሮስ (Tyre) is a Phoenician city, here paired with Sidon and 'all Galilee of the Philistines.' The phrase 'Galilee of the Philistines' is unusual and may conflate Philistia with Galilee, or reflect a Geʿez scribal error.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ወኲሉ፡ ዘጸውዐ፡ ህቋ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ይድኅን","severity":"info","text":"The opening line echoes Joel 2:32 (LXX/MT) but is not a direct quotation. The phrase 'all whom the Lord has called will be saved' is a soteriological expansion typical of Ethiopic Christian redaction.","cites":[{"key":"ed:LIT1689Joel","label":"source edition: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ወሤጥክምዎሙ፡ ለደቂቀ፡ ይሁዳ፡","severity":"caution","text":"The verb ሤጥክምዎሙ (I have sold) is ambiguous: it could mean 'I have sold' or 'I have caused to be sold.' The subject is God, which creates theological tension with the preceding judgment scene.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'Gabra' in the previous passage is unclear; it may be a divine name or a corruption.","The chapter division (Chapter 3) is not canonical; the passage may be a composite of Joel and later apocalyptic material.","The phrase 'Galilee of the Philistines' is geographically anomalous and may be a scribal error or a deliberate conflation."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":9,"ref":"p9","source":"ናሁ፡ አነ፡ አነስኦሙ፡ እምውእቱ፡ ብሔር፡ ኀበ፡ ሤትክምዎሙ፡ ህየ፡ ወእፈድየክሙ፡ ፍዳክሙ፡ ዲበ፡ ርእስክሙ።\n\nወእትቤቀሎሙ፡ ለደቂቅክሙ፡ ወለአዋልዲክሙ፡ በእዴሆሙ፡ ለደቂቀ፡ ይሁዳ፡ ወእትቤቀለክሙ፡ በኀበ፡ ተፄወውክሙ፡ በውስተ፡ አሕዛብ፡ ርኁቃን፡ ነዋኀ፡ እስመ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ነበበ።\n\nስብኩ፡ ዘንተ፡ ውስተ፡ አሕዛብ፡ ወዐስሩ፡ ጸብአ፡ ወአንስኡ፡ መስተቃትላነ፡ አውፅእዎሙ፡ ወይዕርጉ፡ ኲሉ፡ ዕደው፡ መስተቃትላን።\n\nወማሕረሰክሙኒ፡ አግብሩ፡ ኮያንወ፡ ወማዕፅደክመሂ፡ አግብሩ፡ ረምሐ፡ ድኩምኒ፡ ይበል፡ ጽኑዕ፡ አነ።\n\nወይትጋብኡ፡ ኲሉ፡ አሕዛብ፡ ወይሖሩ፡ ይዕግቱ፡ መስተባእሳነ።\n\nወይትነስኡ፡ ኩሉ፡ አሕዛብ፡ ወይዕርጉ፡ ቆላተ፡ ዩሳፍጥ፡ ለእስመ፡ ሕየ፡ እነብር፡ ወአስተዋቅሶሙ፡ ለኩሉ፡ አሕዛብ፡ ወእ፡ አድያም።\n\nፈንዉ፡ ማዕፅደ፡ እስመ፡ በጽሐ፡ ማእረር፡ ባኡ፡ ኪዱ፡ እስመ፡ መልአ፡ ምክያድ፡ ወተክዕወ፡ እምነ፡ ምክያዳት፡ ናሁ፡ በዝኀ፡ እከዩሙ።\n\nወውዑ፡ በቆላተ፡ ቅስት፡ ወደምፁ፡ እስመ፡ አልጸቀት፡ ዕለተ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ በውስተ፡ ቆላተ፡ ቅስት።","english":"Now I have taken them from that place to where I sent them, and I will pay your ransom upon your heads.\n\nAnd I will take vengeance for your children and your offspring at the hands of the children of Judah, and I will take vengeance for you where you were scattered among the distant nations, for the Lord has spoken.\n\nProclaim this among the nations, and prepare for battle, and appoint a commander; drive them out, and let all the enemies and commanders perish.\n\nAnd your plowshares, make them into swords; and your axes, make them into spears; let the weak say, \"I am strong.\"\n\nAnd let all the nations assemble and go to fight the adversary.\n\nAnd let all the nations arise and go up to the Valley of Josaphat, for there I dwell, and I will cause all the nations and peoples to marvel.\n\nSend the axe, for the time of harvest has arrived; go, for the quiver is full, and the arrows have fallen from the quivers; now their evil is abundant.\n\nAnd woe to the Valley of the Bow, and woe, for the day of the Lord has dawned in the Valley of the Bow.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The speaker shifts to a first-person divine voice, declaring the removal of the people from one place to another and the imposition of a ransom payment.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ቆላተ፡ ዩሳፍጥ","severity":"info","text":"The Valley of Josaphat (Jehoshaphat) is a traditional location for the final judgment, derived from Joel 3:2 and later apocalyptic tradition.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The command to turn plowshares into swords and axes into spears echoes Joel 3:10, though the Geʿez text expands the imagery with a weak person declaring strength.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Valley of the Bow (ቆላተ፡ ቅስት) is a Geʿez toponym not found in the Hebrew Bible; it likely reflects a local exegetical or apocalyptic tradition.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of divine judgment and assembly of nations, following the previous passage's mention of the Valley of Jehoshaphat.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Geʿez Book of Joel is part of the broader Ethiopic biblical canon and is often read in liturgical contexts, with this passage interpreted as a prophecy of eschatological war.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of the speaker (divine or prophetic) is ambiguous; the text is read as a divine first-person voice.","The phrase 'Valley of the Bow' is not attested in the Hebrew Bible and its precise referent is uncertain."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":10,"ref":"p10","source":"ፀሐይ፡ ወወርኀ፡ ይጸልሙ፡ ወለከዋብትኒ፡ የዐርብ፡ ብርሃኖሙ።\n\nወይኬልሕ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ እምጽየን፡ ወእምኢየሩሳም፡ ይሁብ፡ ቃለ፡ ወያድለቀልቅ፡ ሰማይ፡ ወምድር፡ ወእግዚአብሔር፡ ይምሕክ፡ ሕዝቦ፡ ወያጸንዖሙ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ ለደቂቀ፡ እስራኤል።\n\nወተአምሩ፡ እንከ፡ ከመ፡ አነ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ አምላክሙ፡ ዘአኀድር፡ ውስተ፡ ጽየን፡ በደብረ፡ መቅደስየ፡ ወትከውን፡ ኢየሩሳሌም፡ ሀገረ፡ ቅድስት፡ ወኢየኀልፍ፡ እንከ፡ እንተ፡ ውስቴታ፡ ዝእምካልእ፡ ህዝብ።\n\nወይከውን፡ ይእተ፡ አሚረ፡ ያንጸፈጽፍ፡ መዐር፡ እምአድባር፡ ወይውኀዝ፡ ሐሊበ፡ እምአውግር፡ ዋይነቅዕ፡ ማይ፡ በኩሎ፡ በሐውር፡ ይሁዳ፡ ወይፈልፍል፡ ነቅዕ፡ ወይወፅእ፡ ፈለገ፡ ሰኪኖን።\n\nወይማስን፡ ብሔረ፡ ግብፅ፡ ወይከውን፡ በድወ፡ ኤዶምያስ፡ ወይጠፍኡ፡ በኃጢአቶሙ፡ ለደቂቀ፡ ይሁዳ፡ እስመ፡ ከዐዉ፡ ደመ፡ ጻድቅ፡ ውስተ፡ ምድሮሙ።\n\nወይዳሰ፡ ለዓለም፡ ትነብር፡ ወኢየሩሳምኒ፡ ለትውልደ፡ ትውልድ።\n\nወእትቤቀል፡ ደሞሙ፡ ወኢነጽህ፡ እስመ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ የኀድር፡ ውስተ፡ ጽዩን።","english":"The sun and the moon will be darkened, and the stars will set their light.\n\nAnd the Lord will cry out from Zion and from Jerusalem, he will give voice and shake the heaven and the earth, and the Lord will have mercy on his people and will strengthen them, the Lord, for the children of Israel.\n\nAnd they will say, \"I am the Lord, your God, who dwells in Zion on my holy mountain, and Jerusalem will become a holy city, and I will not pass away from within her because of any other people.\"\n\nAnd it will come to pass that she will cause the dew to drip from the mountains, and milk will flow from the flocks, and water will gush forth in all the land of Judah, and the streams will flow, and the river of Sekinon will go forth.\n\nAnd the land of Egypt will be desolate, and Edom will become a desert, and they will perish because of their sins, the children of Judah, for they shed the blood of the righteous in their land.\n\nAnd Jerusalem will be built forever and will remain for generations of generations.\n\nAnd I will avenge their blood and I will cleanse, for the Lord dwells in Zion.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The opening lines describe cosmic and divine signs: the darkening of sun, moon, and stars, followed by the Lord crying out from Zion and Jerusalem, shaking heaven and earth, and showing mercy to Israel.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ሰኪኖን","severity":"info","text":"The Geʿez term 'Sekinon' (ሰኪኖን) likely refers to a river or place name, possibly derived from Hebrew 'Shikmonah' or a local tradition; its exact identification is uncertain.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ወይኬልሕ፡ እግዚአብሔር፡ እምጽየን፡ ወእምኢየሩሳም","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'the Lord will cry out from Zion and from Jerusalem' echoes prophetic imagery in Joel 3:16 (MT) and similar theophanic passages in the Hebrew Bible, though not a direct quotation.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage reflects a post-exilic or apocalyptic expectation of divine judgment and restoration, with Egypt and Edom facing desolation for shedding the blood of the righteous, while Jerusalem is rebuilt eternally.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This narrative passage moves from cosmic signs to divine speech, then to oracles of restoration for Judah and punishment for enemies, ending with a promise of vengeance and cleansing from Zion.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"In Ethiopic tradition, this passage is part of the broader Book of Joel, which is included in the Geʿez Old Testament canon and often interpreted eschatologically, linking Zion and Jerusalem to the Ethiopian Orthodox understanding of sacred geography.","cites":[{"key":"betmas:LIT1689Joel","label":"betmas: Book of Joel","url":"https://betamasaheft.eu/LIT1689Joel"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'Sekinon' (ሰኪኖን) is unclear; it may be a river or a place name, possibly a corruption or variant of a known toponym.","The phrase 'I will not pass away from within her because of any other people' could be read as a divine promise of eternal presence in Jerusalem, but the syntax is ambiguous."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]}]}