Overview of Contents

The book of Joel is part of the Jewish Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, and also the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. Joel is part of a group of twelve prophetic books known as the Minor Prophets or simply as The Twelve; the distinction 'minor' indicates the short length of the text in relation to the larger prophetic texts known as the Major Prophets .

The Prophet

Joel was probably a resident in Judah, as his commission was to that people. He makes frequent mention of Judah and Jerusalem (1:14; 2:1, 15, 32; 3:1, 12, 17, 20, 21). The name Joel was common in Israel, and means, "the Lord is God."

Historical Context

Scholars debate the date of Joel with three main schools:

• 835-796BC During the time when Joash was too young to govern and Jehoiada did so in his place (2 Kings 11; 2 Chron. 23-24).

• About 775-725BC Roughly contemporary with Hosea and Amos.

• About 500BC Roughly contemporary with Zechariah.

Sections and Themes

1. A prophecy of a great public calamity then impending over the land, consisting of a want of water and an extraordinary plague of locusts (1:1-2:11).
2. The prophet then calls on his countrymen to repent and to turn to God, assuring them of his readiness to forgive (2:12-17), and foretelling the restoration of the land to its accustomed fruitfulness (18-26).
3. Then follows a Messianic prophecy.
4. Finally, the prophet foretells portents and judgments as destined to fall on the enemies of God (ch. 3, but in the Hebrew text 4).

Use in the New Testament

All quotations taken from the New Revised Standard Version.

External Links

• Jewish Encyclopedia: Book of Joel
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Joel

Links to Translations

Jewish translations:

• Yoel - Joel (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org

Christian translations:

• Joel at The Great Books (New Revised Standard Version)
• Joel at BibleGateway (New International Version and others)
• Joel at Wikisource (Authorised King James Version)
• Joel at BlueLetter Bible (King James Version and others, plus commentaries)

Sources

Thomas J. Finley, Everyman's Bible Commentary: Joel, Obadiah, and Micah. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996)

Douglas Stuary, Word Biblical Commentary: Hosea - Jonah. (Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1987)

William Sanford LaSor, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament, 2nd Ed. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdsmans Publishing Co., 1996)