Background+of+Joel

=toc= =Introduction to Joel =

The author is Joel, son of Pethuel (Joel 1:1), and a prophet.[|[i]] The name Joel means “the Lord (Yahweh) is God.”[|[ii]] He could also be a priest, for Joel addresses ritual fasting and prayer in a very serious manner, and he views the elders and priests as being people of responsibility and influence.[|[iii]] The people respond to Joel’s message by repenting.[|[iv]]

=Historical Context: =

The historical context of Joel is surrounded by a great deal of debate, especially in regards to the time period of its writing. The noticeable leadership addressed in the books are priests and elders (Joel 1:2, 9, 13-14). The last chapter of the books speaks of the destruction of Judah, and how pagan cities will sell the Jewish survivors.[|[v]] The date of Joel is very controversial with a variety of views: Joel never mentions a king or a royal house, and post-exilic proponents view this as support for Joel being written later. Pre-exilic proponents say that this is because it was written early in the reign of King Joash, when Jehoiada was regent.[|[vi]] Priests and elders are viewed as being the leaders in this context and this is often taken as evidence for Joel being written in the post-exilic period, but it is overemphasized, because Joel never says that Jerusalem is being governed by priests or elders, just that they are respected for their influence and knowledge.[|[vii]] The fact that Joel does not refer to the northern kingdom of Israel indicates a possible post exilic/ late pre-exilic date.[|[viii]] The fact that Jerusalem is described as having walls favors either a pre-exilic possibility, or a late postexilic (not the middle option of an early post exilic). Temple worship was not taking place in the exilic period, which demands that Joel follows Haggai and Zechariah (who urged the people to rebuild the temple in approximately 516BC). This makes a 5th or 4th century debate difficult.[|[ix]] Joel refers to God as returning the Israelites to their land, but this does not necessarily mean that it is postexilic. Deuteronomy (28 & 30) predicted the dispersion of Israel centuries earlier, and Samaria had already fallen[|[x]]. However, discussing this before the dispersion makes an early pre-exilic date less likely.[|[xi]] More support for Joel being one of the earliest of the Minor Prophets is the fact that idolatry is not mentioned at all in this book. The entire book of Hosea is all about idolatry, so Joel must have been written before this became a problem.[|[xii]] Further support for the very early pre-exilic view comes from the observation that the enemies mentioned are Phoenicians, Egyptians, Edomites, and Philistines; these are not enemies that were generally encountered in exilic and post-exilic time periods.[|[xiii]] Thus; the fact that Joel does not mention a problem of idolatry, and the fact that the enemies mentioned are all ones that existed in pre-exilic times favor an early, pre-exilic date.

=Literary Forms and Connections: =

Joel’s literary form and connections are quite vivid. Many of Joel’s terms appear in the other prophetic books.[|[xiv]] The form of the book is descriptive poetry.[|[xv]] Joel speaks of a previous locust plague and urges Judah to repent. He tells Judah of the consequences of sin which will come upon their heads. He calls them to communal lamentation: (Joel 1:5-12), issues a cry of alarm: (Joel 2:1), and summons the people to repent: (Joel 2:12-17). He ends with an oracle of salvation (Joel 2:21-27).

=Message of the Book: =

The message of the book centers around the Day of the Lord.[|[xvi]] The first two chapters focus on a devastating locust plague and drought. It is so terrible that the people could not offer sacrifices, and Joel urges the people to repent. The people respond to Joel’s message and repent. God then responds to them by assuring them that they will be blessed in the future. In the third and final part Joel prophecies that God will judge the whole world and restore His people to greatness.

1. Duane Garret, //Hosea, Joel// NAC (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1997), 284 2. Thomas Finley, //Joel, Amos, Obadiah// WEC (Chicago: Moody Press, 1990), 2

3. Ibid, 2

4. Leslie Allen, //The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah//, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 1976), 20

5. Finley, //Joel, Amos, Obadiah,// 3

6. Garret, //Hosea, Joel,// 288

7. Ibid, 288-289

8. Ibid, 289

9. Ibid, 289-290

10. Ibid, 290

11. Ibid, 290

12. Charles Feinberg, //The// //Major Messages of the Minor Prophets: Joel, Amos, Obadiah,// (New York: American Board of Missions to the Jews, 1948), 9

13. Jack Lewis, //The Minor Prophets,// (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1966), 97

14. Finley, //Joel, Amos, Obadiah//, 7

15. Ibid, 9

16. Ibid, 10

Bibliography:

Allen, Leslie. "The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah." In //The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah//, by Leslie Allen. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 1976. Feinberg, Charles. "The Major Messages of the Minor Prophets: Joel, Amos, Obadiah." In //The Major Messages of the Minor Prophets: Joel, Amos, Obadiah//, by Charles Feinberg. New York: American Board of Missions to the Jews, 1948. Finley, Thomas. "Joel, Amos, Obadiah. Wycliffe Exegetical Commentary." Chicago: Moody Press, 1990. Garret, Duane. "Hosea, Joel. New American Commentary." Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1997. Lewis, Jack. "The Minor Prophets." Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1966.

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