The prophecy of joel may seem unimportant as it contains only three brief chapters. Five of the 19 explicit references to the day of the lord in the old testament are found in this short book 1. First, the good news calvins prayers are excellent, and are very convicting suggestion. A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains. Joel sets his message up by pointing to a literal locust plague which he poetically morphs into a eschatological day of the lord. Joel uses this verb 3 times in this book, all in joel 1 commanding wailing from the drunkards, the vine dressers and the priests.
Drawing upon a thorough analysis of the book s grammar and philology, literary forms and context, religious and social situation, and historical setting, crenshaw offers the most informed and uptodate commentary available. John gill unfortunately all too often offers a nonliteral interpretation in the old testament especially. Joel tells us his fathers name, but he says nothing about himself. After a superscription ascribing the prophecy to joel son of pethuel, the book may be broken down into the. Book of joel overview insight for living ministries. The term indicates the short length of the text in relation to longer prophetic texts known as the major prophets. The prophet sounds the alarm of a dreadful calamity, the description of which is most terribly worked up, joe 2.
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. What joel is saying is that you aint seen nothin yet. For those who want to read and understand joel, this book is. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. While obadiah mentioned the terrifying event first obadiah 15, joels book gives some of the most striking and specific details in all of scripture about the day. Joel speaks of gods wrath and ultimate punishment of all the nations that oppressed gods people. The book of joel describes the devastation of a vast horde of locusts as a marching army destroying everything in its path.
Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation. Joel was probably the first of the so called writing prophets. Chapters 12 refer to a plague of locusts which ravaged judah at the time. This makes joel a preexilic prophet, who served before the fall of the northern kingdom of israel 721 b. What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. 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. 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 prophet joel cannot be identified with any of the 12 other figures in the ot who have the same name. The desolations made by hosts of noxious insects is described, joel 1. Joel chapter 3 matthew henry complete commentary on. The commentary on hosea within this volume is 220 pages of the total. Top 5 commentaries on the book of joel ligonier ministries. Nov 17, 2016 the book of joel describes the devastation of a vast horde of locusts as a marching army destroying everything in its path.
However, this little book is like an atom bombit is not very big, but it sure is potent and powerful. Its hard know his exact time, because joel doesnt mention any other kings or prophets. This chapter is the description of a lamentable devastation made of the country of judah by locusts and caterpillars. The wrath of god on the unbelieving nations is described as gods trampling of the grapes in the winepress 3. Promises are made of the return of mercy upon their repentance joel 2. Like all scripture, the book of joel is the word of god. Joel 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. The word of the lord that came to joel, the son of pethuel. Other students think that he wrote it about 330 years later than that. The pulpit commentary relates some information from pseudoepiphanius, who, in his lives of the prophets. There have been many guesses as to the time of when joel lived. Does not always interpret the scripture literallyand sometimes replaces israel with the church note. This is the holy book of joel, known simply as joel.
The nonbiblical legends about him are unconvincing. The people are hereupon called to repentance, joel 2. The book of joel is apocalyptic in nature, referring to the day of the lord. The single best commentary on the first five minor prophets is the commentary by douglas stuart in the word biblical commentary series. Joel said, now, therefore, says the lord, turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. The cause of gods people is pleaded against their enemies, whom god would in due time reckon with joel 3. This theory of an early date of composition was, above all, strongly supported by the fact that no mention is made of.
Advertisement for his book the jewish question here is the book the jewish question john gill commentary on joel. Some scholars maintain that the prophets borrowed phrases from one another. He is not mentioned outside the books of joel and acts. Basically, it is that, the day of the lord is coming to bring judgment for gods enemies and restoration for gods people. Cut off in the more literal usage means cutting something off or down and in a sense the grapes are cut off by the devouring locusts which cuts off the supply of wine. For those who want to read and understand joel, this book is indispensable. Joel was just a messenger, a spiritual currier entrusted with a message from god. Joel esv the word of the lord that came to joel, bible. Estimates for the dates of the book of joel range from the ninth century to the second century b.
A free bible version and commentary on the book of joel in easyenglish. Exhortation to repentance, fasting, and prayer, that the divine judgments may be averted, joe 2. The book of joel is part of the hebrew bible, one of twelve prophetic books known as the twelve minor prophets. Ever mindful of the wider context and composition of these ancient but living texts, david hubbard shows how joel and amos addressed israels mind and heart. The book of joel introduction to the book of joel in the bible. Title the greek septuagint and latin vulgate versions follow the hebrew masoretic text, titling this book after joel the prophet, the recipient of the message from god 1. The pericope for ash wednesday falls at the end of this section. Study the bible online using commentary on joel and more. Stuart deals with the details of the text as well as the big picture. Joel summary we hope that you find the joel summary from the kjv bible chapters and verses helpful to your bible studies and for references as a guide to further reference to the book of joel. A huge plague of locusts connected with a great drought gave the occasion for writing this book. Its style fits the earlier classical period better than the postexilic era of haggai, zechariah, and malachi. Some scientists say the book has been written around 400 bc or even later.
While most of the other prophets can be dated with some degree of accuracy, it is notoriously difficult to date the book of joel. Some students think that he wrote his book about 850 years before the birth of jesus. Book of joel matthew henrys bible commentary concise. As the apostle john describes in the book of revelation. Study joel using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. The book of joel has striking linguistic parallels to the language of amos, micah, zephaniah, jeremiah and ezekiel. This is, in my opinion, the best and most beautiful.
In other words, god says, nothing like this has ever happened in your lifetime, or in your fathers lifetime. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of joel. The really important thing is that joel has a message from god. Nothing is known about the prophet joel whose name this book bears. Summary of the book of joel the story of the bible. Joel sets his message up by pointing to a literal locust plague which he poetically morphs into a. Joel was a prophet in the southern kingdom of judah during the period of the divided kingdom 930722 bc. Some think that the prophet speaks of it as a thing to come and gives warning of it beforehand, as usually the prophets did of judgments coming.
This commentary has been through advanced checking. Joel free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. The book of joels importance to the canon of scripture stems from its being the first to develop an oftmentioned biblical idea. He sent us to warn them about the consequences of their sin, and to give them a chance to ask for forgiveness. Read them aloud, very slowly and as a sincere prayer to the almighty god. Joel 3 in the close of the foregoing chapter we had a gracious promise of deliverance in mount zion and jerusalem. Joel commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. The holy bible book 29 joel kjv dramatized audio youtube. This commentary is a valuable guide to the fascinating world and challenging word of these two prophets. David guzik commentary on joel 1, where the prophet to ancient judah described how god would bring.
Joel is referred to only once in the new testament acts 2. Best joel commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers. Joel summary we hope that you find the joel summary from the kjv bible chapters and verses helpful to your bible studies and for references as a. Read joel commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. You can find the best commentary on joel for you using the tools on the right side. Unlike the other books, joel tells us a story about a terrible plague of locusts that seems to. 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. God compares the past to the future in the book of joel. Commentary on the book of joel by matthew henry old. 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. No further details are given about him anywhere in scripture.
You will also find options for commentaries on joel that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more. The book of joel accounts for justice over evil in a form thats unique to the other old testament prophets. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. Commentary on joel 1 by matthew henry blue letter bible. The greek septuagint lxx, and latin vulgate versions follow the hebrew masoretic text, titling this book after joel the prophet, the recipient of the message from god 1. Joel 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Douglas stuart hoseajonah word biblical commentary, 1987. 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. Joel commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole bible. The book of joel can be divided neatly into two parts. Joel meaning one to whom jehovah is god, that is, worshipper of jehovah seems to have belonged to judah, as no reference occurs to israel. Joel with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Drawing upon a thorough analysis of the books grammar and philology, literary forms and context, religious and social situation, and historical setting, crenshaw offers the most informed and uptodate commentary available. Book of joel bible study chapter 1 locuts, destruction near.