Dictionaries :: Joel, Book Of

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 (Joe 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 (Joe 1:1-2:11). (2.) The prophet then calls on his countrymen to repent and to turn to God, assuring them of his readiness to forgive (Joe 2:12-17), and foretelling the restoration of the land to its accustomed fruitfulness (Joe 2:18-26). (3.) Then follows a Messianic prophecy, quoted by Peter (Act 2:39). (4.) Finally, the prophet foretells portents and judgments as destined to fall on the enemies of God (Joe 3, but in the Hebrew text 4).