Joel (prophet)

Joel
Fresco of the prophet Joel
Prophet Joel as imagined by Michelangelo (Fresco, Sistine Chapel Ceiling, 1508–1512).
Prophet
Venerated in Judaism
Christianity
Major shrine Gush Halav, Israel
Feast October 19 (Orthodox)
Attributes Prophet
Major works Book of Joel

Joel (/ˈdʒoʊəl/; Hebrew: יוֹאֵל‎ Yōw’êl; Syriac: ܝܘܐܝܠ‎ Yu'il) was a prophet of ancient Israel, the second of the twelve minor prophets and the author of the Book of Joel. He is mentioned by name only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the introduction to his own brief book, as the son of Pethuel (Joel 1:1). The name Joel combines the covenant name of God, YHWH (or Yahweh), and El (god), and has been translated as "one to whom YHWH is God," that is, a worshiper of YHWH.[1]

He is accredited to be lived in the 9th century BCE, but the datation of his book is still debated. The book's mention of Greeks[2] has not given scholars any help in dating the text since the Greeks were known to have had access to Judah from Mycenaean times (c. 1600–1100 BC).[3] However, the book's mention of Judah's suffering[4] and to the standing temple[5] has led some scholars to place the date of the book in the post-exilic period, after the construction of the Second Temple. Joel was originally from Judah/Judea, and, judging from its prominence in his prophecy, was quite possibly a prophet associated with the ritual of Solomon's or even the Second temple.[6]

According to a long-standing tradition, Joel was buried in Gush Halav.[7]

In Christianity

On the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar, his feast day is October 19.[8]

In the Roman Martyrology the prophet is commemorated on July 13.[9]

He is commemorated with the other Minor prophets in the Calendar of saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on July 31.

Joel's statement that "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" was applied by St Peter in his sermon at Pentecost to the events of that day. Since then other religious figures have interpreted the words as having special significance for their own time.

According to the Eastern Orthodox Christian hymns, the ancient hymnographer Anatolius links Joel’s prophecy to the birth of Christ. In Joel 2:30, he says that the blood refers to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, the fire to the Divinity of Christ, and the pillars of smoke to the Holy Spirit.[10]

In the Baha'i Faith

Joel is considered a minor prophet in the Baha'i Faith.[11] In the Kitab-i-Iqan, Baha'ullah states that previous prophecies by minor prophets such as Joel have symbolic meanings and significance and therefore should not be understood literally.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Commentary by A. R. Faussett". Jfb.biblecommenter.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Joel 3:6 in chapter divisions of English bibles, 4:6 in the Hebrew Bible
  3. ↑ A-Z of Prophets in Islam and Judaism, B. M. Wheeler, Joel
  4. ↑ Joel 3:19; 4:19 in the Hebrew Bible
  5. ↑ Joel 1:14
  6. ↑ Leslie C. Allen, The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976), p.31
  7. ↑ "Gush HaLav". Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  8. ↑ "Prophet Joel in the Eastern Orthodox Church". Orthodox Church of America. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018.
  9. ↑ Editor. "Roman Martyrology July, in English". Boston-catholic-journal.com. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "Prophet Joel". oca.org. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  11. ↑ Revisioning the Sacred: New Perspectives on a Bahái̓́ Theology – Volume 8 – Page 32, J. A. McLean – 1997
  12. ↑ Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era: An Introduction to the Bahá'í Faith – Page 251, J. E. Esslemont – 2006
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