Answer
The book of Joel is one of the twelve Minor Prophets. It was written by the prophet Joel. Unlike certain other prophets, such as Hosea and Zechariah, Joel does not reference a ruling king during his time, making it difficult to date the book. Some commentators suggest Joel wrote during the period after Queen Athaliah’s rule. At that time, the priest Jehoida governed until Athaliah’s grandson, Joash, came of age. Such a placement would explain the book’s omission of named rulers. The mention of priests and temple rituals also hints at an early date. Joel may have been a contemporary of Elisha, but we can’t be certain.
The book opens with the statement that “Joel, son of Pethuel” is the author. Little is known of Joel beyond his background as the son of Pethuel. However, his focus on Jerusalem and his prophecies concerning Judah suggest that he was a prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah.
Joel’s prophetic style is artistic as he employs poetry to communicate with his readers. His name, meaning “The Lord Is God,” aligns with his overarching message urging people to return to God. Joel also develops the biblical theme of the day of the Lord (Joel 2:1–2), using a recent calamity (a disastrous swarm of locusts) to highlight God’s judgment against sin. In the New Testament, Peter references one of Joel’s prophecies as being partially fulfilled on the day of Pentecost:
“In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17–18; cf Joel 2:28).
Controversy surrounding Joel’s authorship is limited, but some scholars, due to dating challenges, question the traditional attribution. There is, however, no reason to doubt that Joel is the author of the book bearing his name.
As part of the Minor Prophets, the book of Joel is short, containing only three chapters. While some modern readers are tempted to skip Joel and the other Minor Prophets, these works contribute significantly to the overall biblical narrative. Joel imparts crucial lessons about the certainty of God’s judgment, the need for repentance, the place of calamity in drawing us away from selfishness and toward God, and the future hope fulfilled by the Messiah.
