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Life and Ministry of the Prophet Joel

The prophet Joel, whose name means "Jehovah is God" or "he that wills or commands" [3, 16], is the second of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. His personal history is primarily known through his book, which identifies him as the son of Pethuel [7, 15, 16]. While the identity of Pethuel is not definitively known, some traditions suggest he was an honorable man, leading to his mention in the text [15].

Joel was likely a resident of Judah, as his prophetic commission was directed toward that people, and his book frequently mentions Judah and Jerusalem [1:1, 14; 2:1, 15, 32; 3:1, 12, 17, 20, 21]. He is generally believed to have prophesied during the reign of King Uzziah, around 800 B.C., making him a contemporary of Amos and Isaiah [1, 8].

The book of Joel opens with a description of a severe public calamity afflicting the land: a lack of water and an extraordinary plague of locusts [1, 17]. This devastation is presented as an unparalleled judgment from God, destroying crops, fields, and trees, and accompanied by scorching heat [17]. The prophet calls upon his countrymen, particularly the priests, to repent and turn to God, urging them to gird themselves with sackcloth, lament, and gather for solemn prayers in the temple [1, 14]. This call to repentance includes fasting, mourning, and weeping, with the promise that God would avert the judgment [17].

A significant theme in Joel's prophecy is the outpouring of the Spirit. Joel 2:28-29 states, "It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh... And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit" [5, 12]. John Calvin notes that this passage is one of the highest commendations given by the prophets to the kingdom of Christ, indicating a richer abundance of the Spirit under Christ's reign [12]. While the prophet seems to connect these gifts to the office of prophesying, Calvin suggests it intimates that God will illuminate people through His Spirit [12]. John Gill further elaborates that this outpouring includes both the gifts and grace of the Spirit, affecting even servants and handmaids, many of whom were called by grace and some became ministers of the word [13]. This challenges the Jewish tradition that the divine presence (Shechinah) or prophecy rests only upon the wise, mighty, or rich [13].

Beyond the prophet, the name Joel appears for several other individuals in the biblical record. These include:

These various individuals named Joel highlight the commonality of the name, which means "Jehovah is God" [8]. The prophet Joel, son of Pethuel, is distinguished from these others by his specific lineage and the content of his prophetic book [16].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Joel, Book of — Joel was probably a resident in Judah, as his commission was to that people. He makes frequent mention of Judah and Jerusalem (1:14; 2:1, 15, 32; 3:1, 12, 17, 20, 21). He probably flourished in the reign of Uzziah (about B.C. 800), and was contemporary with Amos and Isaiah. The contents of this book are, (1.) A prophecy of a great public calamity then impending over the land, consisting of a want of water and an extraordinary plague of locusts (1:1-2:11). (2.) The prophet then calls on his countrymen to repent and to turn to God, assuring them of his ”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Joel — (to whom Jehovah is God). + Eldest son of Samuel the prophet, (1 Samuel 8:2; 1 Chronicles 6:33; 15:17) and father of Heman the singer. (B.C. 1094.) + In (1 Chronicles 6:36) Authorized Version, Joel seems to be merely a corruption of Shaul in ver. 24. + A Simeonite chief. (1 Chronicles 4:35) + A descendant of Reuben. Junius and Tremellius make him the son of Hanoeh, while others trace his descent through Carmi. (1 Chronicles 5:4) (B.C. before 1092.) + Chief of the Gadites, who dwelt in the land of Bashan. (1 Chronicles 5:12) (B.C. 782.) + The son of Izrahiah, of”
  3. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Joel — he that wills or commands”
  4. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3100R — Man living at the time of Exile and Return (refs: #A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Ezr.10.43; <br>only referred to as )”
  5. Joel “And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit. -- Joel 2:29”
  6. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3100O — Levite living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.23.8; <br>only referred to as )”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Joel — Jehovah is his God. (1.) The oldest of Samuel's two sons appointed by him as judges in Beersheba (1 Sam. 8:2). (See VASHNI.) (2.) A descendant of Reuben (1 Chr. 5:4, 8). (3.) One of David's famous warriors (1 Chr. 11:38). (4.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1 Chr. 15:7, 11). (5.) 1 Chr. 7:3. (6.) 1 Chr. 27:20. (7.) The second of the twelve minor prophets. He was the son of Pethuel. His personal history is only known from his book.”
  8. STEPBible TBESG “[H3100] H3100R = (H3100R) — A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Ezr.10.43<BR> § Joel = "Jehovah is God"<br>1) son of Pethuel and the 2nd of the 12 minor prophets with a book by his name; probably prophesied in the time of king Uzziah of Judah<br>2) eldest son of Samuel the prophet and father of Heman the singer<br>3) a Simeonite chief<br>4) a Reubenite<br>5) a chief of Gad<br>6) son of Izrahiah and a chief of Issachar<br>7) brother of Nathan of Zobah and one of David's mighty warriors<br>8) son of Pedaiah and a chief of the half tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan ”
  9. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3100N — Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.15.7; <br>only referred to as )”
  10. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3100S — Man living at the time of Exile and Return (refs: #A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.9; <br>only referred to as <)”
  11. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3100H — Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A man from the tribe of Simeon(?) living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.3)”
  12. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 56: seed and root of heavenly life in us. Accordingly, one of the highest commendations which the prophets give to the kingdom of Christ is, that under it the Spirit would be poured out in richer abundance. One 464 of the most remarkable passages is that of Joel, “It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,” ( Joel 2:28 ). For although the prophet seems to confine the gifts of the Spirit to the office of prophesying, he yet intimates under a figure, that God will, by the illumination of his Spirit, p”
  13. Joel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joel 2:29: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour my Spirit. Men servants and maidservants should partake of the gifts and grace of the Spirit in great, abundance; and many of them were effectually called by grace, through the ministry of the word; and some servants became ministers of it; all which appears from Co1 7:21; for that is not true what the Jews (p) say, the Shechinah or divine Majesty does not rest but upon a wise man, and one mighty and rich; or prophecy, as Maimonides (q) has it. (p) T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 92. 1. (q) Moreh Nevochi”
  14. Joel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joel 1:13: Gird yourselves--namely, with sackcloth; as in Isa 32:11, the ellipsis is supplied (compare Jer 4:8). lament, ye priests--as it is your duty to set the example to others; also as the guilt was greater, and a greater scandal was occasioned, by your sin to the cause of God. come--the Septuagint, "enter" the house of God (compare Joe 1:14). lie all night in sackcloth--so Ahab (Kg1 21:27). ministers of my God-- (Co1 9:13). Joel claims authority for his doctrine; it is in God's name and by His mission I speak to you.”
  15. Joel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joel 1:1: The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Who this Pethuel was is not known; Jarchi takes him to be the same with Samuel the prophet, who had a son of this name, Sa1 8:2; and gives this reason for his being called Pethuel, because in his prayer he persuaded God; but the long span of time will by no means admit of this, nor the character of Samuel's son agree with Joel; and therefore is rightly denied by Aben Ezra, who observes, however, that this man was an honourable man, and therefore his name is mentioned; and gives this as a rule, that whenever any p”
  16. Joel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joel 1 (introduction): THE DESOLATE ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY THROUGH THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS; THE PEOPLE ADMONISHED TO OFFER SOLEMN PRAYERS IN THE TEMPLE; FOR THIS CALAMITY IS THE EARNEST OF A STILL HEAVIER ONE. (Joel 1:1-20) Joel--meaning, "Jehovah is God." son of Pethuel--to distinguish Joel the prophet from others of the name. Persons of eminence also were noted by adding the father's name.”
  17. Joel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Joel 1 (introduction): I. The Judgment of God, and the Prophet's Call to Repentance - Joel 1:2-2:17 An unparalleled devastation of the land of Judah by several successive swarms of locusts, which destroyed all the seedlings, all field and garden fruits, all plants and trees, and which was accompanied by scorching heat, induced the prophet to utter a loud lamentation at this unparalleled judgment of God, and an earnest call to all classes of the nation to offer prayer to the Lord in the temple, together with fasting, mourning, and weeping, that He might avert the judgment. I”
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