The Prophet Joel

Joel was one of the minor prophets of ancient Israel and his story can be found in the Old Testament/Tanakh (in the Book of Joel) . While the dates of his lifetime are unknown, theologians speculate that he lived somewhere between the 9th and 5th centuries BC. However, the mention of Judah's suffering and the 'standing temple' [in the Holy Book] have led some scholars to believe he lived during the post-exilic period and after the completion of the Second Temple. Joel, the son of Pethuel, was originally from the southern kingdom of  Judah (also known as Judea) and quite possibly associated with the rituals of the Jerusalem temple (such as: offerings, holidays, reading of Psalms, etc.).



The Prophet Joel by Michelangelo (Sistine Chapel Ceiling, 1508-1512).



The Prophet Joel was considered to be one of earliest writing prophets of the Hebrew/Christian Bible and was a contemporary with the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Habakkuk. He was also quoted by Amos, Isaiah, Malachi, Micah, Nahum, Obadiah and Zephaniah [confirming his early prophethood] and the first prophet to mention the "Day of the Lord". (Joel 2:31)

The Day of the Lord:

Is a special term in the Bible used to refer to a period of time when God directly intervenes in human affairs---in judgment or in blessing. The phrase identifies events that will take place at the end of history (Isaiah 7:18-25) and often is associated with the term "that day". Some scholars believe that the "day of the Lord" will be longer than a single day and will be a period of time when God will cleanse heaven and earth in preparation for the eternal state of all mankind throughout the world. Other theologians believe this day will be an instantaneous event when some will be redeemed and others will be sentenced to eternal damnation.  

The table below represents some of the more explicit quotes and allusions between specific passages in Joel and passages from the Old and New Testaments:

________________________________________________________________

       

                   Joel                    Old Testament                New Testament     

                                 1:6/2:2-10                                                   Revelation 9:3, 7-9

                                 1:15                     Isaiah 13:6

                                                              Ezekiel 30:2-3

                                 2:1                       Zephaniah 1:14-16

                                 2:1-2                   Amos 5:18, 20

                                 2:11                     Malachi 3:2

                                                              Isaiah 45:5

                                 2:27                     Ezekiel 36:11

                                 2:28-32                                                       Acts 2:16-21

                                 2:31                     Malachi 4:5

                                 2:32                     Obadiah 17                    Romans 10:13

                                 3:10                     Isaiah 2:4

                                                              Micah 4:3

                                 3:16                     Amos 1:2

                                 3:17                     Obadiah 17

                                 3:18                     Amos 9:13

            ____________________________________________________________________

Joel's message to the Israelites was simple and precise... God's people will win; God's enemies will lose. His chief purpose was to call God's people to repentance and to show the great judgment that would come upon the nations who oppressed the people of God.  Consequently, the prophet explained that the natural disasters [swarm of locusts, a horrid drought and the great famine that followed] were divine judgments against the nation because of their wayward sins.  (Joel 1:1-2 & 27)  In addition to the call of repentance, Joel prophesied of two blessings that were to be fulfilled in the distant future [from the prophet's era of time]. (1) prophetic gifts to all God's people and the safety of His people in the face of apocalyptic cosmic disasters - a correlation made by the apostle Peter in Acts 2:16-21. (2) the coming judgment on God's enemies and the vindication of Israel.

While the Holy Book does not go into detail about Joel or his life, tradition states that he was from the city of Bethom and from the tribe of Reuben. It has also been suggested that the prophet was buried in Gush Halav. The prophecy of Joel is one which will extend from Joel's own lifetime to the time of Israel's restoration (which many scholars proclaim is our own modern time).