Joel 2 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. Joel reflects on the day of the lord and how true repentance will bring about the great restoration hoped for in the other prophetic books. However, this little book is like an atom bombit is not very big, but it sure is potent and powerful. The book relates nothing about joel except his name and that of his father. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors. Joel, the prophet and son of pethuel, urged the people to hear his message, in view of the locus plague, and to pass it on down. The term indicates the short length of the text in relation to longer prophetic texts known as the major prophets. The genre of joel is narrative and prophetic oracle. The first verse of this short book names joel jehovah is god the son of pethuel as author. Joel is referred to only once in the new testament acts 2. A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains. The land laid wastehear this, you elders,and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land. Key personalities are joel and the people of judah.
Lord will do great things in contrast to the great things done by the haughty foe joel 2. This summary of the book of joel provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of joel. The book of joel opens with the telling of an impending locust swarm and its consequences. The second major problem in the book concerns the fulfillment of. Besides this very short message we do not know anything about the person and circumstances of joels life. The best scifi, thriller, fantasy and nonfiction books. Ultimately the book of joel will find its fulfillment in the great tribulation, the time of jacobs trouble, preceding the judgment of the nations 3. Joel sets his message up by pointing to a literal locust plague which he poetically morphs into a. The book of joel is without the customary dating formula used by the prophets hos. The terribleness of the plague may be judged of by the following description of the locusts.
The book of joel introduction to the book of joel in the bible. The book of joel is a prophecy divided into three chapters. A prophet between calamity and hope the library of hebrew bibleold testament studies elie assis, andrew mein, claudia v. Joel summary we hope that you find the joel summary from the kjv bible chapters and verses helpful to your bible studies and for references as a. The prophet joel cannot be identified with any of the 12 other figures in the ot who have the same name.
The book of joel states that its author was the prophet joel joel 1. Book of joel, second of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets. Estimates for the dates of the book of joel range from the ninth century to the second century b. The book of joel was likely written between 835 and 800 b. Joel with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Plange quasi virgo lament like a virgin, the third responsory for holy saturday, is loosely based on verses from the book of joel. Chapters 12 refer to a plague of locusts which ravaged judah at the time. Then god will give peace to his people again joel 3. Book of joel bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets. The book of joel niv audio holy bible high quality and. This attack causes significant damage to the economy and agriculture as this disaster of locusts is accompanied by a severe famine throughout the land. There is a strong eschatological overtone in joel 2.
This is, in my opinion, the best and most beautiful. Joel draws on a reallife catastrophea swarm of locusts devastating the land of judahto warn of the disaster that the day of yahweh will bring to those who do not repent. The book of joel also makes ample mention of priests, temple rituals, and nations, such as phoenicia, philistia, egypt, and edom, that were prominent in the late ninth century bc. The prophet begins by describing an event so singularly extreme that it has never happened before, one that demands to be related to succeeding generations, as it will never occur again. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. The book of joel is apocalyptic in nature, referring to the day of the lord. Joel describes them destroying wheat and barley crops, stripping trees down to their bark, ruining grape vines so no wine offerings could be made to the lord. Summary of the book of joel the story of the bible. After a superscription ascribing the prophecy to joel son of pethuel, the book may be broken down into the. He sent us to warn them about the consequences of their sin, and to give them a chance to ask for forgiveness. The land over which their devastating hordes have passed at once assumes the appearance of sterility and dearth. Joel is bright and flowing, his imagery and language are fine driver, introduction to the literature of the old testament. In the two speeches that make up this book, joel uses an agricultural crisis to measure his audiences knowledge of its god, warn them of a worse disaster if they ignore his preaching, and express his conviction that all faithful judahites would someday enjoy a secure future. It is a warning to the people about the dangers of turning from god.
Best commentaries and books on joel logos bible software. The book of joel from the holy bible new international version niv book 29 please note we have increased the volume and the pitch of the audio for a clearer sound, so this speed and. The jewish canon lumps all together as the twelve and divides. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish israel joel 1. How does god restore the years that the locusts have eaten joel 2. This is the holy book of joel, known simply as joel. All of this points to a date of approximately 835 bc or soon after, making joel one of the earliest writing prophets, as well as a contemporary of the prophet elisha. Virtually nothing is known about this prophets lifefrom his references to judah, jerusalem, and jehovahs house there, it may be inferred that he prophesied in judah and perhaps resided in jerusalem. This invasion of locusts destroys everythingthe fields of grain, the vineyards, the gardens and the trees. The book of joel is part of the hebrew bible, one of twelve prophetic books known as the twelve minor prophets.
Joel was a prophet in the southern kingdom of judah during the period of the divided kingdom 930722 bc. There was an agrarian people whose lives and landscapes were devoured by caterpillars. An inspired book of the hebrew scriptures written by joel the son of pethuel. This is my second time reading this verse and it just sticks out so much to me. Judah, the setting for the book, is devastated by a vast horde of locusts. He identified himself as the son of pethuel, preached to the people. God compares the past to the future in the book of joel. Basically, it is that, the day of the lord is coming to bring judgment for gods enemies and restoration for gods people. The greek septuagint lxx, and latin vulgate versions follow the hebrew masoretic text, titling this book after joel the prophet, the recipient of the message from god 1. By the millions ravenous locusts will swoop over israel, gorging themselves on every plant in sight. Joel then tells the people about a special day that is coming. This chapter begins with the announcement that the day of jehovah cometh, and the summons of all of the people to a solemn convocation in the presence of god. The author of the prophecy is identified only as joel the son of pethuel.
See also works on the minor prophets as a whole achtemeier, elizabeth. The book of joel is concerned with the day of yahweh, a coming time when god will judge the world and make all things right. Joel is a narrative and prophetic source of wisdom. The book of joel written around 800bc and begins by describing a disastrous attack of locusts in the country of judah. Joel 1 full chapter the word of the lord that came to joel son of pethuel. The jewish canon lumps all together as the twelve and divides joel into four chapters.