What is the…
Book of Joel

Joel was probably a resident in Judah, as his commission was to that people. He makes frequent mention of Judah and Jerusalem (Joel 1:14; 2:1, 15, 32; 3:1, 12, 17, 20, 21).

He probably flourished in the reign of Uzziah (about 800 BC), 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 (Joel 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 (Joel 2:12-17), and foretelling the restoration of the land to its accustomed fruitfulness (Joel 2:18-26).
3. Then follows a Messianic prophecy, quoted by Peter (Acts 2:39).
4. Finally, the prophet foretells portents and judgments as destined to fall on the enemies of God (chapter 3, but in the Hebrew text 4).