This month our Bible reading plan takes us to the Minor Prophets. To help us assemble these books and understand their message, here are a number of resources to Joel, the first book of The Twelve. You can find more information about the Minor Prophets here.

The Historical Context of Joel

While no definitive date can be assigned to Joel, the ESV Study Bible provides a helpful explanation for dating Joel after the exile.

Estimates for dating the book of Joel range from the ninth to the fourth centuries B.C. While no consensus has been reached, most scholars hold to a date after the exile (586 B.C.) for the following reasons: (1) the exile is treated as a past event (3:2–3); (2) the conquest of Jerusalem is mentioned (3:17); (3) no king is mentioned; (4) the temple plays a positive role, while there is no prophetic denunciation against the idolatry and syncretism mentioned in Hosea and Amos; and (5) the anger expressed toward Edom is best explained by its treatment of Judeans during the Babylonian conquest (Joel 3:19; Obad. 1–21). (p. 1643)

The Message of the Twelve (pp. 17–18, 51) dates Joel to 500 BC on the basis of the locust plague described in Joel 1:4 and the historical locust plague that occurred in 500 BC.

Joel and the Other Prophets

Another reason why many believe Joel is written after the exile is because of how many verses are quoted or alluded to by Joel. Here’s a list of connections with other Minor Prophets (The Message of the Twelve, 95), supplemented by passages found in the Major Prophets (The Bible Project).

Connections with the Minor Prophets[1]

Joel 1:15	Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7
Joel 2:2	Zephaniah 1:14–15
Joel 2:6	Nahum 2:10
Joel 2:13	Jonah 3:9; Micah 7:16–18; Nahum 1:3 (cf. Exodus 34:6–7)
Joel 2:31	Micah 4:5
Joel 2:32	Obadiah 17
Joel 3:5	Obadiah 15
Joel 3:10	Micah 4:3 (cf. Isaiah 2:4)
Joel 3:16	Amos 1:2
Joel 3:18	Amos 9:13

[1] Richard Alan Fuhr, Jr. and Gary E. Yates, The Message of the Twelve, 95.

Connections with the Major Prophets[1]

God’s Spirit will fill all people (2:28–32)	Isaiah 32:15; 44:3 Jeremiah 31:31–34 Ezekiel 36:23–27
God will confront evil among all nations (3:1–16)	Isaiah 13 Zephaniah 3 Ezekiel 38–39
God will renew all creation (3:17–21)	Isaiah 35 Ezekiel 47 Zechariah 14

[1] The Bible Project

An Outline of Joel

The ESV Study Bible

1. The Judgment against Judah and the Day of the Lord (1:1–2:17)
   1. Locust invasion: forerunner of the day of the Lord (1:1–20)
   2. Army invasion: the arrival of the day of the Lord (2:1–17)
2. The Mercy of the Lord and Judgment against the Nations (2:18–3:21)
   1. Mercy: the Lord responds by restoring his people (2:18–32)
   2. Judgment: the Lord’s judgment against the nations and his dwelling with his people (3:1–21)

The Message of the Twelve[1]

Joel 1:1–2:17 The Call for Repentance in Light of the Day of the LORD		Joel 2:18–3:21 The Restoration of Israel and the Final Day of the LORD
Joel 1:1–20 Call for Sacred Assembly to Lament Focus on past judgment of locust plague	Joel 2:1–17 Call for Sacred Assembly to Repent Focus on a coming judgment	Joel 2:18–27 Promise for the Near Future Reversal of the Locust Plague	2:28–3:21 Promise for the Distant Future Restoration of Israel and Judgment of the Nations
“the Day of the LORD is near” (1:15) “the Day of the LORD is coming” (2:1) “the Day of the LORD is terrible and dreadful” (2:11)		“the great and awe-inspiring Day of the LORD” (2:31) “the Day of the LORD is near” (3:14) “In that day . . .” (3:18)

[1] Richard Alan Fuhr, Jr. and Gary E. Yates, The Message of the Twelve, 97.

The Bible Project

1. A Past Day of the LORD (1:1–20) — an announcement of disaster; a call to repentance; acts of repentance
2. A Future Day of the LORD (2:1–17) — an announcement of disaster; a call to repentance; acts of repentance
3. God’s Response (2:18–27)
   1. Defeat the Invaders (vv. 20–21)
   2. Restoration of the Devastated Land (vv. 22–26)
   3. Divine Presence among God’s People (v. 27)
4. THE Future Day of the LORD (2:28–3:18)
   1. God’s Spirit will fill all people (2:28–32)
   2. God will confront evil among all nations (3:1–16)
   3. God will renew all creation (3:17–21)

Video Overview

Overview Sermons on Joel

• Who Will God Save? The Message of Joel by Mark Dever
• Major Points from Joel and Amos by John Blanchard 

Sermon Series on Joel

Sinclair Ferguson

• The Day of the Locusts (Joel 1)
• The Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1–17)
• The Day of Grace (Joel 2:18–32)
• The Day of Decision (Joel 3)

Christopher Ash

• Disasters and Our Response (Joel 1:1–2:17)
• Disasters and God’s Grace (Joel 2:18–27)
• God’s Spirit for All God’s People (Joel 2:28–32)
• God’s Judgment – Bad News and Good (Joel 3)

Books on Joel

• Hosea, Joel (New American Commentary) by Duane Garrett
• Joel (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament) by Joel Barker
• Joel and Obadiah: Disaster and Deliverance by Iwan Rhys Jones

Books on the Prophets in General

• Peter J. Gentry, How to Read and Understand the Prophets (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017).
• O. Palmer Robertson, The Christ of the Prophets (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2004).
• Aaron Chalmers, Interpreting the Prophets: Reading, Understanding and Preaching from the Worlds of the Prophets (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2015)

Books on the Minor Prophets

• Richard Alan Fuhr, Jr. and Gary E. Yates, The Message of the Twelve: Hearing the Voice of the Minor Prophets (Nashville: B & H Academic, 2016).
• Paul House, The Unity of the Twelve (New York: T & T Clark).

Soli Deo Gloria, ds