For this class, I learned a lot of material covered throughout the Old Testament. I learned about the chosen people, their mistakes, their punishment, and how God showed his grace even when they disobeyed. However, there is one group of people that kept the descendants of Abraham throughout their time, the prophets. These people were chosen messengers of God’s word, and even though the messages weren’t always pretty, they were always true. As a result, I have decided to give an insight on the prophetic book of Joel and the message behind this book. In a book titled “Joel: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary,” “the book of Joel consists of seventy-three verses” (Crenshaw, 11). In Crenshaw’s introduction he gives the idea that the book of Joel is clearly written by the prophet, Joel, himself (2008). However, there is no clear indication to tell us exactly when this book of Joel was actually written by the prophet. For example, in a book titled “The Book of Twelve: Hosea- Jonah” by James Nogalski, he states “In the past, suggestions have ranged from the tenth to the second centuries BCE.,” while “ the last thirty years, scholars have reached a broad consensus that Joel is a postexilic writing” (201). Because of this, the placement of this book is recognized in two separate times. According to Mickal, the Hebrew Bible places the book of Joel with the Minor Prophets, after Ezekiel & Hosea but before Amos, while the English and Greek Bible places it after Daniel and Hosea, but before Amos (2004). According to James L. Crenshaw, the prophet is addressing the kingdom of Judah (2008). This chapter focuses on the importance for the elderly to illustrate Judah’s past to the younger generations (Crenshaw, 2008). Crenshaw also explains how Joel is trying to get the people of Judah to fast and pray (2008). In addition, David Malick conveys the purpose of this book of Joel was his plea for the people of southern Judah to repent for their sins in order to prepare for the Day of the Lord, a day of destruction (2004). However, Malik does inform us that Joel brings hope to the people by letting them know that God will restore Judah in the future (2004). In the chapter of Joel, the book explains the terrible transgressions of the people of Judah. During this time the people of southern Judah experienced locust plagues in which there was an infestation of locust, people dying, and food shortages (Crenshaw, 13).
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Scripture from Biblegateway.com references, “How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering” (Joel 1:18, NIV). According to an article titled “About the Old Testament of the Bible” on Cliffnotes.com, “The prophets of the post-exilic period — Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Joel, and Obadiah — are usually classified among the so-called minor prophets” (2016). Thus, the time period of the post-exilic period refers to Judah’s continued disobedience after God had brought them out of exile. In the book of Joel, his words to the people reflect what God has already done in the previous years of Judah. He tries to warn the people that God will do the same to them as he had already done their ancestors when they did not obey. The problems Joel addresses
Scripture from Biblegateway.com references, “How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering” (Joel 1:18, NIV). According to an article titled “About the Old Testament of the Bible” on Cliffnotes.com, “The prophets of the post-exilic period — Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Joel, and Obadiah — are usually classified among the so-called minor prophets” (2016). Thus, the time period of the post-exilic period refers to Judah’s continued disobedience after God had brought them out of exile. In the book of Joel, his words to the people reflect what God has already done in the previous years of Judah. He tries to warn the people that God will do the same to them as he had already done their ancestors when they did not obey. The problems Joel addresses