51 Mosaic law allowed men recently married, or about to be married, to be exempt for a year from certain duties that were normally mandatory, such as military obligation (cf. Deut 20:7; 24:5). However, Joel pictures a time of such urgency that normal expectations must give way to higher requirements.

In other versions

gather the people.

Consecrate the congregation;

assemble the elders;

gather the children,

even nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom leave his room,

and the bride her chamber.

Gather the people,

consecrate the assembly;

bring together the elders,

gather the children,

those nursing at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his room

and the bride her chamber.

Gather the people;

sanctify the congregation;

assemble the aged;

gather the infants,

even babies nursing at the breast.

Let the groom leave his bedroom,

and the bride her honeymoon chamber.

Gather all the people—

the elders, the children, and even the babies.

Call the bridegroom from his quarters

and the bride from her private room.

gather the people, consecrate the assembly;

assemble the elders, gather the children,

even those who are breast-feeding;

let the bridegroom come out from his private room,

and the bride from her canopy.

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,

Gather the children, and those that suck the breasts:

Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

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