The author281 the name joel means, the lord is god. Let everyone tremble in fearbecause the day of the lord is upon us. Summary of the book of joel the story of the bible. The term indicates the short length of the text in relation to longer prophetic texts known as the major prophets. Jul 27, 2017 alan delivers the book of joel, where we look at the invasion of locusts.
So, the people must confess their evil deeds to god. Jan 02, 2020 the overriding theme of the book of joel is the day of the lord, a day of gods wrath and judgment. Yahweh and joel call on the people to return to the lord who is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil 2. Patterson for one states that, he wrote with a pure classical yet logical style, distinguished by its clarity, flow of thought, and beauty of expression. His father, pethuel, is mentioned nowhere else in the bible. Joel 1 future events, beginning with 1 the lord leading an army of locusts that will cause plague and famine 2 restoration after the plague 3 the coming of the holy spirit. The book of joel is often noted for its rich poetic5 imagery. The date of composition was probably between 400 and 350 bc, although some scholars place it much earlier 9th 7th century bc. The word of the lord that came to joel, the son of pethuel. Joel describes a plague of locusts in palestine it is hard to know when the book joel was written since the events told about may have happened many times. The book gives us no other information about the prophet, and he is mentioned nowhere else in scripture. The jewish canon lumps all together as the twelve and divides joel into four chapters.
He said to me, eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of israel. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of joel. 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 lack of any reference to judahs king has prompted some scholars to suggest that it was written during the time when joash, the boy king, ruled judah 835739 b. Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers. Joel 1 the word of the lord that came to joel son of pethuel. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors. We know nothing else about him other than the name of his father. God compares the past to the future in the book of joel.
This commentary has been through advanced checking. 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. Joel and the locust invasion reformed bible studies. The book of joel is in the old testament part of the bible. Yuil was a prophet of ancient israel, the second of the twelve minor prophets and according to the book itself the author of the book of joel. Book of joel overview insight for living ministries.
Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly scripture encouragement to share with family and friends. All he tells about himself is that he is joel the son of pethuel. This is the day in which god reveals his attributes of wrath, power and holiness, and it is a terrifying day to his enemies. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. The genre of joel is narrative and prophetic oracle. The prophet joel is identified only as joel son of pethuel joel 1. Joel may be reckoned among the classics of hebrew literature. Overview of the book of joel third millennium ministries. In the christmas spirit, his first holiday book, joel osteen offers uplifting and inspiring stories of family and friends celebrating christmas traditions that will help readers return to the essence of the holiday by practicing the principles taught by our savior, jesus christ, whose birth we celebrate that day. Key personalities are joel and the people of judah. Indirect references throughout the book have been claimed in support of dates that have differed. 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.
Highlights from the books of joel and amos watchtower. The book of joel states that its author was the prophet joel joel 1. Book of joel read, study bible verses online bible study tools. An analysis of the text further indicates that joel lived during the period of the second. The book of joel introduction to the book of joel in the bible. In the book bearing his name, joel says so little about matters other than his message that even the time of his prophecy can only be estimated about 820 b. Privacy policy about wikipedia disclaimers contact wikipedia. Twelve other men in the old testament have this name, none of whom can be identified with the author of this book. The book states that it was written by the prophet joel, although nothing is said about himself except that he was the son of pethuel.
By the millions ravenous locusts will swoop over israel, gorging themselves on every plant in sight. 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. It is a warning to the people about the dangers of turning from god. Joel king james version kjv 1 the word of the lord that came to joel the son of pethuel. Yahweh and joel urge the people to come together and call upon their gracious lord so that he will relent and the nations will not mock. New york megachurch pastor and bestselling author joel osteen spoke with the christian post wednesday about his new book, i declare. Gcbi is a one year bible program designed to give students the tools and knowledge required to understand the bible and form a biblical worldview, with the goal of. What are the most commonly asked questions about the book of joel. The contents of the book may be analyzed further as follows. Unlike the other books, joel tells us a story about a terrible plague of locusts that seems to traverse across time. Now, while the prophecy of hosea reveals the heart of god, the prophecy of joel reveals the hand of god, the hand that controls destiny, the hand that moves. Most scholars date the book after the exile to babylon 586 b. The book of zechariah is filled with prophesies about jesus.
Joel is the second of the twelve prophets in the book of the twelve in hebrew scripture. What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. The book of joel describes the day of the lord through locust swarms, war scenes, and powerful imagery in order for readers to comprehend its magnitude. The prophet joel s vivid description of the plague, and the style in which this short three chapter book was written has made it a powerful classic of hebrew literature. Joel is a seminal book for an understanding of the prophetic message. The book of the twelve follows the writings of the four major prophets, isaiah. This is what was spoken by the prophet joel desiring god. We know little of the prophet joel beyond a few personal details contained in the book itself. Joel 1 niv bible the word of the lord that came to joel. How does god restore the years that the locusts have eaten joel 2.
It is possible that joel may have been a contemporary of elisha in israel. While the date of the book is debated, its message is valid for all times and is important to us today. What is the book of joel about and how does it apply to us today. Joel was probably one of the earliest of the minor prophets. This was also gods message to his people through the prophet joel. The book of joel is a prophecy divided into three chapters. In the last few verses of the book, god says that he will avenge his people while all of this is going on he will protect his people from any harm. This invasion of locusts destroys everythingthe fields of grain, the vineyards, the gardens and the trees. He identified himself as the son of pethuel, preached to the people of judah, and expressed a great deal of interest in jerusalem. What we use to determine the date, in that case, is internal evidence reference to various nations, events, etc. Nothing other than his name is known about the prophet.
Joel told of a locust plague which had struck israel and which, he said, foreshadows the day of the lord. The hebrew book of the prophet joel in the bible is apocalyptic in nature. The book of joel, a prophetic book of the old testament of the bible, derives its name from the prophet joel. The book of joels importance to the canon of scripture stems from its being the first to develop an oftmentioned biblical idea. Continuing with our analysis of joel, in chapter two verse 12 of that book, the prophet seems to step back from the day of yhvhs wrath and focus on the time period leading up to this terrible time. God will roar with a loud cry from zion and cause the earth to tremble before him. Introduction united states conference of catholic bishops.
The book of joel is part of the jewish tanakh, and also the old testament of the christian bible. So i ate it, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. He is mentioned by name only once in the hebrew bible, in the introduction to that book. Joel is the special prophet of the day of the lord. In the first chapter, the day of the lord is experienced historically by the plague of locusts upon the land. Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers.
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. Watch our overview video on the book of joel, which breaks down the. The date of joel the purpose of this paperl is to classify and evaluate some of the discussions of the date of joel since the appearance of kapelruds joel studies in 1948. Since the book of joel contains no clear indications as to when it was written, it is exceedingly difficult to date the book.
Joel wasnt the only old testament prophet who longed for the day when god would saturate his people with his spirit. Joel is referred to only once in the new testament acts 2. The book of the twelve prophets was originally on one parchment roll because of the brevity of the text, and together formed one book of the 24 books of hebrew scripture. It is believed that he did not live far from jerusalem. We ought to give ourselves to the reading of gods word, as the apostle paul wrote to timothy and encouraged him to do. Its purpose was to call the southern kingdom to repentance or prepare for the coming judgment. Joel is bright and flowing, his imagery and language are fine driver, introduction to the literature of the old testament. Judah, the setting for the book, is devastated by a vast horde of locusts. Joel calls the inhabitants of judah and jerusalem to lament and return to the lord during a time of national disaster.
This brings us fullcircle back to the army of immortals joel describes as yhvhs army joel 2. The book of joel in the bible predicts a time of destruction and punishment. The book of joel was likely written between 835 and 800 b. Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation. Joel has also been called the prophet of pentecost because of his most famous and wellknown passage 2. Joel osteens most popular book is your best life now. The little book of joel is only three chapters long, and we should all read it. Joel summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of joel for bible study or sunday school lessons. I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that scroll. The postexilic composition of the book can least of all be proved from the mention of the elders see especially i. 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.
Joel is a narrative and prophetic source of wisdom. Home faq books of the bible joel questions about joel. The longawaited, allaccess biography of a music legend in billy joel, acclaimed music journalist fred schruers draws upon more than one hundred hours of exclusive interviews with joel to present an unprecedented look at the life, career, and legacy of the pintsized kid from long island who became a rock icon. This was made to assess how well you know the book. We refer to the book of joel, which describes a plague of locusts under the old covenant as a type of the day of the lord joel 1. Joels familiarity with this area and the worship in the temple suggests that he lived in judah, possibly even in the city of jerusalem itself. The book of joel is without the customary dating formula used by the prophets hos. Joel originally brought in fred schruers, a respected.
Joel goes on to say that in those days darkness will cover the sun. Book of joel simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The book discusses joel himself, and the people of judah. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers. Jan 02, 2020 book of joel bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets.
Joel also figures large in the new testament, with some 28 references. A locust invasion precipitated the vision of the next book in our yearlong study of the old testament writing prophets. Watch our overview video on the book of joel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. It was most likely written between 835 and 800 years before the birth of. The prophet joel cannot be identified with any of the 12 other figures in the ot who have the same name. Book of joel, second of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets. However, this little book is like an atom bombit is not very big, but it sure is potent and powerful. Yhwhs call to return to him with all your heart and the day of yhwh, when he judges the nations and blesses his people. Oct 29, 2014 one of the most anticipated rock bios of the year, billy joel comes with a backstory almost as complicated as the 65yearold hitmakers life. Joel old testament prophet amazing bible timeline with. The music of billy joel is part of the soul of our existence here, as elemental as the beaches and the bagel stores, the east end and the south shore, the five towns and the gold coast. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish israel joel 1.
To learn the history of billys li upbringing, his rise to fame and his frequent brushes with sorrow, this is the book youll want to read. The locust plague in judah the word of the lord that came to joel the son of pethuel. The book of joel is part of the hebrew bible, one of twelve prophetic books known as the twelve minor prophets. Joel osteen has 319 books on goodreads with 116200 ratings. The book of joel accounts for justice over evil in a form thats unique to the other old testament prophets. Little is known about joel, a prophet from judah perhaps jerusalem. That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers. A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains. The most popular bible verses from joel found 73 verses joel 2. The book relates nothing about joel except his name and that of his father. We know little of the prophet joel beyond a few personal details contained in. The book of joel opens with the telling of an impending locust swarm and its consequences. Book of joel bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets.