The Strand Study Bible

JOEL

Author : Joel Theme : The Future DAY OF THE LORD Book’s Main Character : The Nation of Judah

About the Author : Joel, whose name means “ Jehovah is God,” was the son of Pethuel and a prophet to the nation of Judah. Although difficult to date because no king is mentioned, most scholars place Joel’s prophecy during the days of young King Joash (II Ki 11:4-12:3), who was under the direct supervision of the priests until the day he became king over Judah at the age of seven. Joel therefore began his ministry c. 865 BC and was probably a contemporary of Elisha the prophet (II Ki 2-13). About the Book : The nation of Judah had just been plagued with a swarm of locusts (vs 1-4), the worst possible hardship for a nation largely dependent upon agriculture. Now God was ready to chasten her again if she did not repent (vs 15). It was Joel’s calling to warn His people to humble themselves in order to avoid future chastening (1:5-15). According to Joel 2:18-19, the people under young King Joash did repent and God promised to remove the plague of locusts (2:20). Judah had learned a valuable lesson - when judgment is pronounced, quickly humble yourselves and the judgment can be avoided (I Cor 11:31). Joel compared the plague of locusts to the coming judgment of Christ in the DAY OF THE LORD (1:15). He also prophesied of a future restoration for Israel under Christ (3:17-21). Helpful Background : Unlike Israel, the first 80 years of Judah’s history (from 970-889 BC) were rather healthy (spiritually speaking). Then came the death of King Jehoshaphat (889 BC) and the nation’s spiritual condition began to change. In just thirteen short years (from 889-876 BC), two bad kings (Jehoram and Ahaziah) and one wicked queen (Athaliah) had brought Judah to the place where God had to chasten her with a severe drought, accompanied by an invasion of locusts. By the time young King Joash took over the throne in 876 BC, Judah was on the verge of yet another severe chastening (pictured by the future DAY OF THE LORD ), if she did not repent. Notes of Interest : 1. Joel is quoted in the NT 2 times (Acts 2:17-21 and Rom 10:13) 2. Prophecies are referred to 45 times in Joel . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 23 of those 45 times.

4. Prophecies concerning the HOLY SPIRIT are referred to 2 of those 45 times. 5. There is 1 inset map used in the book of Joel . It is numbered chronologically (#212).

Outline of Joel :

1. Jerusalem’s Present Troubles (Joel 1:1 - 2:17) 2. Jerusalem’s Future Deliverance (Joel 2:18 - 3:21) Joel 1

5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of 2 wine, because of the 3 new wine; for it is 4 cut off from your mouth. 6 For a 5 nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a 6 lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. 7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made 7 white. 8 Lament like a 8 virgin girded with sack- cloth for the husband of her youth. 9 The meat offering and the drink offer- ing is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD’S ministers, mourn. 10 The field is wasted, the land mourn- eth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.

1. Note - God warned His people that He would chasten them with locusts if they were disobedient (Deut 28:15,38-42). 2. Prov 20:1 & 23:29-35 3. or, “sweet” - Isa 49:26 4. Note - The reason their wine supply was cut off was because the locust had eaten all the vines. 5. or, “nation of locust” 6. Note - Locusts are like lions , in commission they devour everything (Rev 9:7-8). 7. that is, “stripped clean” 8. or, “widow” that, when they are armed with a divine

God punishes Judah with a plague of locusts (Note - Joel’s prophecy took place around the 11th year of King Joash’s reign and the 17th year of King Jehu’s reign) Date Written - c. 865 BC/AM 3135 1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. 2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? 3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their chil- dren another generation. 4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the 1 locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. God warns Judah to learn from her chastening

1:1 Joel’s name means “The LORD ( Jehovah ) is God ( Elohim ).” Joel is referred to 1 time in the NT (Acts 2:16). NOTE - Although Mormons cannot prove it biblically, they are taught to believe that the FATHER ( Elohim ) created the SON ( Jehovah ). Yet the meaning of Joel’s name proves just the opposite. Jehovah is Elohim ; they are one and the same (Deut 10:17, Isa 43:10-11 and II Chro 14:11). The names Jehovah and Elohim are simply different titles that are used to describe different attributes of each Person within the Trinity ( Gen 1:1 b ). 1374