Joel







Overview

The exact year of the book of Joel is unknown but Joel suggests that the Jews had recently been freed by foreign rulers (emperors or kings). Scholars debate on the year but it is around 400 B.C. Joel says very little about himself except that his father's name is Pethuel. Scholars believe that the book of Joel was written by two different authors in two different parts. For this reason the book is usually broken up into two main parts.

Book Parts


The first part of the book of Joel tells of the plague of locust that was destroying Judah. The plague of locust can be interpreted as a symbol of an invading army to come.
The second part of the book of Joel tells of the people of Judah appeasing God by repenting for their sins. God rewards them by giving them a great harvest.

Questions

What is the name of Joel's father?

Around what year did Joel prophesize?

What metaphor did Joel use for foreign invaders?

Sources

Mary Margaret Pazdan, Collegeville Commentaries: Joel, Obadiah, Haggai, Zecharaiah, Malachi (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1986),16-17, 28-31
Michael Faulhaber, "Joel" The Catholic Enclyclopedia, 1910 edition
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0826358.html
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=968
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