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Introduction to Joel
Part 1: General Introduction
Outline of the Book of Joel
- Judgment and the day of Yahweh (1:1–2:11)
- An army like locusts, like the coming Judgment (1:1–20)
- The day of Yahweh (2:1–11)
- Restoration and the mercy of Yahweh
- The people should turn to Yahweh, for he will pity them (2:12–27)
- The Spirit of Yahweh, wonders, and salvation (2:28–32)
- Yahweh will judge the nations
- Yahweh judges the nations (3:1–16)
- Yahweh dwells in Zion (3:17–21)
What is the Book of Joel about?
In this book, Joel speaks a lot about the "day of Yahweh." This expression is found five times in Joel (1:15; 2:1; 11, 21; and 3:14). This phrase is also found in thirteen places in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, and Malachi. This "day" is the time when Yahweh will judge and punish his people and also the other nations. At this time, Yahweh will stop those who rebel and sin against him.
How should the title of this book be translated?
"The Book of Joel" may also be called the "The Book about Joel" or "The Sayings of Joel." (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)
Who wrote the Book of Joel?
Very little is known about the prophet Joel, son of Pethuel. According to tradition, Joel lived in the time of the northern and southern kingdoms. He may have lived during the reign of King Joash of Judah some time between 650-600 B.C. However, most scholars today think that Joel probably lived after the Jews had returned to Judah from Babylonia.
Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts
What is the meaning of the locust attacks in Joel 1 and 2, and of the drought in Joel 2?
It was common for farmers in the Ancient Near East to experience massive locust attacks. Millions of these insects would come and eat all crops in their fields. Joel might have been describing such attacks in the first two chapters. But because Joel used military terms to describe these locust attacks, he may have be describing enemy invaders who would come and destroy the land and its people.
In the same manner, the drought that Joel described might have been a real lack of rain. Or it might have been a description of either enemy invaders or of Yahweh himself coming to punish his people and the other nations.
Translators should translate simply as Joel described them and not worry about the various possible meanings.
What did Joel prophesy about the future for God's people?
Joel prophesied that God will defeat Israel's enemies, rebuild the city of Jerusalem, and rule as victorious king over the whole world. At the same time, God will give his Spirit to all his people, and they will receive messages from him in dreams and visions. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/holyspirit)
Part 3: Important Translation Issues
How should one translate the poetry of the Book of Joel?
All of the text in the Book of Joel is poetry, as is represented in the ULB. The UDB, however, presents the text as prose, because many translators will choose to use prose in their versions. Translators who wish to translate the book as poetry should read about poetry and parallelism. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism)