Book of joel jewish commentary

No further details are given about him anywhere in scripture. Some students think that he wrote his book about 850 years before the birth of jesus. Why the book of joel is second in the order of the 12 minor prophets overall, the sequence of books in the twelve conforms to the historical periods of the prophets, beginning with hosea and amos from the mideighth century b. Some scientists say the book has been written around 400 bc or even later. Jewish publication societys version of the hebrew bible 1917. Commentary on the book of joel with yair davidiy britam. He notices the blessings of the gospel, with the final glorious state of the church. Joel has grown up to be a godly young man, a man of the book, holding fast to faithful word titus 1. Joel with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The pulpit commentary relates some information from pseudoepiphanius, who, in his lives of the prophets. No indication of the authors life, time, or place of residence is given, and the name of the prophet is not mentioned again either within the book itself or anywhere else in the bible. The book of joel is the second work in the collection of the minor prophets. Jewish tradition placed joel between hosea and amos, though the reason for this. God compares the past to the future in the book of joel.

The first installment of the ariel commentary series highlights the real life concerns of 1st century jewish believers. Unlike the other books, joel tells us a story about a terrible plague of locusts that seems to. Its purpose was to call the southern kingdom to repentance or prepare for the coming judgment. Key personalities are joel and the people of judah. The result is a bible commentary of the quality and originality readers have come to expect of the renowned anchor bible series.

The books of joel, obadiah, jonah, and micah the new. Douglas stuart hoseajonah word biblical commentary, 1987. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. The holiest day in the jewish calendar is yom kippur, the day of atonement.

The book of joel, though it contains some superb hebrew poetry, raises a number of critical issues. And finally, one may observe that the central horror of the book of joel is a plague of locusts, one type of which is called the gazam cutter joel 1. The people are hereupon called to repentance, joel 2. For then, at that time, when i restore the fortunes of yhudah and yerushalayim, i will gather all nations and bring them down to the valley of yhoshafat adonai judges. In the verses below, we highlighted the common portion of. Chapter 2 moves forward however to the end of the age where the day of the lord plays out, leading to the return of jesus christ and the judgment of the nations. Verses 17 it is a foolish fancy which some of the jews have, that this joel the prophet was the same with that joel who was the son of samuel 1 sa. Joel reflects on the day of the lord and how true repentance will bring about the great restoration hoped for in the other prophetic books. I will enter into judgment there for my people, my heritage israel, whom they scattered among the nations. Yhwh is god, the second book in the minor prophets. Joel was just a messenger, a spiritual currier entrusted with a message from god. This commentary has been through advanced checking.

Joel tells us his father s name, but he says nothing about himself. Joel commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The prophet begins by describing an event so singularly extreme that it has never happened before, one that demands to be related to succeeding generations, as it will never occur again. After a superscription ascribing the prophecy to joel son of pethuel, the book may be broken down into the. The cause of gods people is pleaded against their enemies, whom god would in due time reckon with joel 3.

Several midrashim and later commentaries explain that the destruction of. On the other hand, neither the interpretation of the imperfects in verse 17 as jussives. Joel 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Joel 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. This summary of the book of joel provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of joel. These have not occurred yet and neither has the lord jesus returned. The hebrew prophet yoel or joel, meaning the lord is god provides some. Study the bible online using commentary on joel and more. The contents of the book may be summarized as follows.

It is a warning to the people about the dangers of turning from god. Joel was the first to mention this and as we continue through this book well see this theme expanded and elaborated upon. Translations of biblical passages are taken from the new jewish publication. The controversial book of ezekiel nearly didnt make it into the biblical canon, but it has had a lasting impact on both liturgical practice and mystical traditions. The superscription of the book names the prophet joel son of pethuel as the author. Freehof, union of american hebrew congregations, new york, 1978 commentary on sefer yechezkel from the vbm virtual beit midrash reconciling the sacrifices of ezekiel with the torah, jewish bible quarterly, reuven chaim rudolph klein, jbq, 44. This theory of an early date of composition was, above all, strongly supported by the fact that no mention is made of the assyrians.

Jewish bible commentaries merrimack valley havurah. Its style fits the earlier classical period better than the postexilic era of haggai, zechariah, and malachi. The genre of joel is narrative and prophetic oracle. All of this points to a date of approximately 835 bc or soon after, making joel one of the earliest writing prophets, as well as a contemporary of the prophet elisha. Joel commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole bible. They drew lots for my people, traded boys for whores, sold girls for wine to. Years of meticulous study, writing, and editing have produced this remarkable commentary on the messianic jewish epistles mje covering the books of hebrews, james, i peter, ii peter, and jude. Mention must also be made of isaac arama 143094, whose aqedhah, his commentary on the pentateuch homiletical in style, was the standard book for the jewish pulpit for centuries, much esteemed by the christian world, and is still much read by the jews, especially in russia and poland. Free online bible library jewish commentary on the bible.

Nothing is known about the prophet joel whose name this book bears. The term indicates the short length of the text in relation to longer prophetic texts known as the major prophets. Joels position in the book of the twelve, as the jews call the minor prophets, indicates that jewish tradition considered joel to be an early book. Other students think that he wrote it about 330 years later than that. Commentary for joel 1 from the desolations about to come upon the land of judah, by the ravages of locusts and other insects, the prophet joel exhorts the jews to repentance, fasting, and prayer. The book of joel is a prophecy divided into three chapters. The prophet joel cannot be identified with any of the 12 other figures in the ot who have the same name. While baal worship was outwardly defeated during the years when jehoiada lived, the worship of the people was more outward and formal and did not originate from true heart repentance cf. The book is a unity, as most recent scholars recognize, though the author uses many earlier motifs and traditions cf. The first installment of the ariel commentary series highlights the real life concerns of. The book of joel, though it contains some superb hebrew poetry, raises a number of critical issues which are. The book of joel also makes ample mention of priests, temple rituals, and nations, such as phoenicia, philistia, egypt, and edom, that were prominent in the late ninth century bc. Promises are made of the return of mercy upon their repentance joel 2. You can find the best commentary on joel for you using the tools on the right side.

The book of ezekiel has always been a problem book. Joel does not focus on justice, name specific sins, or single out specific people or castes of people for their sins. The book of joel accounts for justice over evil in a form thats unique to the other old testament prophets. A huge plague of locusts connected with a great drought gave the occasion for writing this book. Joel 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. In other words, god says, nothing like this has ever happened in your lifetime, or in your fathers lifetime. Besides this very short message we do not know anything about the person and circumstances of joel s life.

Haftarot, and is reprinted with permission from the jewish. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of joel. Joel 4 cjb for then, at that time, when i bible gateway. Read joel commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Joel judgment precedes israels future spiritual revival. Estimates for the dates of the book of joel range from the ninth century to the second century b. The jewish publication society, known in the jewish community as jps, has initiated a longterm, largescale project to complete a modern jewish commentary on the entire hebrew bible. Book of joel overview insight for living ministries. In the two speeches that make up this book, joel uses an agricultural crisis to measure his audiences knowledge of its god, warn them of a worse disaster if they ignore his preaching, and express his conviction that all faithful judahites would someday enjoy a secure future. The books of joel, obadiah, jonah, and micah the new international commentary on the old testament allen, leslie c.

Book of joel bible study chapter 2 the day of the lord. Wedged between hosea and amos is joel who is concerned with judah. This theory of an early date of composition was, above all, strongly supported by the fact that no mention is made of. Joel and acts say that wonders will occur in the sky, the sun will darken, the moon will turn red. During the flow of the commentary, they engage one another in conversation. The result is a nuanced interpretation of every passage in luke. The book of joel is part of the hebrew bible, one of twelve prophetic books known as the twelve minor prophets. The first verse of this short book names joel jehovah is god the son of pethuel as author. I apologize for all the personal background, but it helps you understand the context for why the book of joel holds such a special place in my heart.

Top 5 commentaries on the book of joel ligonier ministries. There have been many guesses as to the time of when joel lived. The prophecies of the book of joel are divided into two parts, comprising. Unlike the judaica press and soncino commentaries, the jps commentaries are producing a detailed linebyline commentary of every passage, in every book of the bible. Misplaced prophet of the locust plague my jewish learning. The book is prophetic in that it speaks a word of judgment and grace to a specific audience, evoking amendment of thought and life.

Advertisement for his book the jewish question here is the book the jewish question john gill commentary on joel. Rather, joel bids the people to turn toward god in repentance and worship. This indicates that jewish tradition considered the book of early origin merrill f. Obadiah sure retribution must overtake merciless pride.