JO'EL ION, Yahweh is God). The son of Pethuel and second (or, according to the Sep tuagint order, the fourth) of the twelve minor prophets. Concerning the life of Joel absolutely nothing is known, except the fact. gathered from his work, that he prophesied in Judah. The occasion for his prophecy was a destructive plague of locusts, accompanied by a severe drought. The prophecy consists of two parts: (1 ) (i. 17) A vivid description of the de vastation that the plague is causing in the land and a call for repentance, to he manifested by fasting, solemn assemblies. and mourning; this is accompanied by an assurance that repent ance will bring forgiveness and renewed prosper ity. and will keep off the lay of Yahweh,' which, however, is sure to come. (2) (ii. 21) The statement, evidently following repentance on the part of the people, that the plague has de parted and that Yahweh will bless the land with material prosperity. and ultimately with a gift of prophecy for all flesh. A description follows of the day when Yahweh will gather the nation: together in the valley of Jehoshaphat (q.v.) and judge them for their wrongs against Israel. There are two different problems connected with the book; namely, the meaning of the locusts spoken of and the date of the prophecy. Some critics take the locusts allegorically, as a figure for the enemies of Jerusalem; others—and this view is now mare general—take the locusts liter ally, a plague of locusts being no unusual thing for Palestine. The date must be fixed entirely by internal evidenee, and this has produced two widely different views, (a) one favoring a pre exilic state, preferably in days of Joash. (b)
another in favor of a post-exilie date. The main criterion is the list of nations mentioned as enemies of Judah—the Phmnicians.
Egyptians. and Edomites. The reference to the Greeks (iii. 6) and the fact that there is no mention of the Syrians, Assyrians. or among the enemies, are potent reasons in favor of the later date, after the return of the in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. The trend of opinion is now quite general toward this date.
Joel is full of lofty imagery, and his language is pure and eloquent. The book presents many parallels with other Old Testament books—e.g. Isaiah (cf. Joel i. 15. ii. 10, iii. In, respectively, with Isa. xiii. (3, 10. ii. 4). Ezekiel (cf. Joel ii. 2S, i. 15, ii. 1, 2. respectively. with Ezek. xxxix. 29. xxx. 2. 3), end Amos (cf. Joel iii. 16. iii. IS, respectively, with Amos i. 2, ix. 13). It has been attempted to settle the vexed question of the date by means of these parallels; but naturally there is great dispute as to which prophet is borrow ing. Consult: Creduer, Der Prophet Joel ubcr setzt and crklart (Halle, 1831) ; W'iinsche, Die Irc issagung des Propheten Joel abersetzt and crkliirt (Leipzig, 1672) ; Merx, Die Prophezeiang des Joel and Uwe Ausleger (Halle, 1879) ; and the authorities referred to under MINOR PROPHETS.