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Bible Overview is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in Bible study. Each month we feature a book of the Bible (in order) by Bible scholar and lecturer, Mary Jane Chaignot.
This month has two entries, Joel and Amos, whose writings are found among the Minor Prophets. The books are quite different. One author is virtually anonymous, while the other is well known. One writes in a historical vacuum; the other is well rooted in history. Joel announces the Day of Yahweh and offers a unique interpretation of Yahweh acting through natural disasters. Amos focuses on social issues and has been instrumental in shaping modern notions of human rights. Though each preached a message specific to the circumstances of his times, these spokesmen for God bring messages of hope and restoration that resonate with relevance to today’s world. If you want to read some of the history previous to this selection, you can find the earlier books in our archives.
The Bible Time-Line is another quick reference for locating individuals or specific books. We encourage readers to share their Bible Study success stories on this site. Email us at overview@biblewise.com to be included on next month's site.
Joel
Little is known about this prophet, other than the name of his father, Pethuel. Some think that Pethuel is derived from Bethuel who was Rebekah’s father. But this is quite speculative and not widely accepted. The name Joel appears once in 1 Samuel, and many times in Chronicles and Ezra and Nehemiah, leading some scholars to argue for a postexilic date. They also point out that Joel routinely mentions Judah and Jerusalem, but not Israel, which leads them to think that it had to be after 722BCE when the Assyrians destroyed Israel. Plus, he writes about the temple, but no king. So scholars think it might have been after the exile, though arguments from silence are not the most compelling. When the text doesn't say anything, people sometimes assume nothing happened. That's called an argument from silence, and most people think it's rather weak. So in this case, because he doesn't mention a king, people might assume he was writing during a time when there was no king -- hence post exile. Despite its placement between Hosea and Amos, few claim that it is contemporaneous with them (ninth century).
It is unusual for a prophet not to give some hint regarding the period of his ministry. Knowing the historical background oftentimes sheds light on the writings. However, others claim the lack of historical reference makes the message timeless, and that would certainly be true of Joel. Though comprised of merely three chapters, his book encompasses the two main themes of the Bible. On the one hand, he pronounces a very real judgment on human sin; on the other hand, he makes known the grace of a merciful God, who will never permit complete destruction.
The occasion for Joel’s words was prompted by a locust plague that had descended upon Judah. Most scholars think this was meant literally and was not just a metaphorical reference to an army (acting like locusts). Not only were crops destroyed (and hence the nation’s economic base), but also all aspects of society were affected. In essence, the whole sacrificial system was at risk, because they had nothing to offer. In these dreadful circumstances, Joel saw the hand of God. Although life had been prosperous and peaceful, Joel felt the nation had taken God’s blessings for granted and had degenerated into decadence and religious formalities. Unlike other prophets, however, he does not specifically identify their sins. Nonetheless, he cautioned that this plague was merely the beginning of worse things to come – unless, of course, they returned to God in full fellowship. Then God would not only forgive them, but He would also restore the land, which would allow them to re-establish the heart of the ceremonial religion.
Joel achieves his purpose by repeatedly referencing the “Day of Yahweh.” This is best understood in terms of Israelite Holy War, whereby a conqueror would vanquish all of Israel’s enemies in a single day. In the first section of his writings, Joel turns this concept upside down and proclaims that in a single day Yahweh will annihilate them. According to him, that time was in process. Then, after they had experienced suffering and reconciliation, the “Day of Yahweh” would also be unleashed upon their enemies (chapter 3).
The two main themes are both subdivided into two separate oracles. The first two describe a general and persistent distress, while the last two are oracles of hope that describe future deliverance. Of these, the first highlights God’s mercy and outpouring spirit, and the second promises the defeat of all Judah’s enemies. Like several other prophets, Joel followed the woe/weal model. Basing his prophecies squarely on the Mosaic covenant, he believed judgment was inevitable for the nation’s sins, but after a period of discipline, God would even more abundantly restore and bless His people. |
