The Book of Joel: A Prophet between Calamity and Hope

Description

Prophetic sayings are generally a reaction to immediate realities, and therefore attempts to understand prophetic literature without the benefit of the prophet's historical milieu are limited or inaccurate. Contrary to the prevailing opinion that Joel is post-exilic, the book is located within the exilic period, recognising the lack of any rebuke consistent with a people experiencing deep despair. The Book of Joel places great emphasis on the motif of the divine presence residing in the midst of Israel, and it is asserted that the prophet's main purpose was to bring the people to renew their connection with the Lord after the destruction of the Temple, which, though physically ruined, had not lost its religious significance. A literary and rhetorical analysis demonstrates how the prophet sought to influence his audience. Literary devices and rhetorical tools are investigated, and their relevance and contribution to the book's meanings are explored. One central feature of the book is its focus on a detailed discussion of the position and purpose of the locust plague, employing recent literary approaches. CONTENTS Acknowledgments Abbreviations Part I. INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 -- THE DATE AND MEANING OF THE BOOK OF JOEL Dating Joel Joel as a Prophet in Judah in the Exilic Period (Between 587 and 538 B.C.E.) The Meaning of the Book of Joel in Its Historical Setting Chapter 2 -- LOCUSTS IN THE BOOK OF JOEL: THEIR ROLE IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK Devastation by Locusts and by Human Enemies: The Link Between the Two Parts of Joel Explanations of the Relationship Between the Two Parts A New Proposal The Book’s Structure Part II. JOEL 1:2–2:17: DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCUSTS, CALL TO THE PEOPLE TO TURN TO GOD, PRIESTS’ PRAYER Chapter 3 -- THE STRUCTURE AND MEANING OF THE LOCUSTPLAGUE ORACLES IN JOEL 1:2–2:17 Introduction The Structure of the Locust Oracles (1:2–2:17) The Relationship Between the Four Oracles The Significance of the Structure of the Oracles Chapter 4 -- THE FIRST PERICOPE OF JOEL REGARDING THE LOCUSTS, 1:2–12 Structure of the Pericope Verses 2–3—Introduction: Call to the People to Hear Verses 4–12—Description of the Plague of Locusts and Its Implications Structure of the Pericope Chapter 5 -- THE SECOND PERICOPE OF JOEL REGARDING THE LOCUSTS, 1:13–20 Structure of the Pericope Call to the People, 1:13–15 The Description of the Disaster, 1:16–18 Turning to God, 1:19–20 Summary Chapter 6 -- THE THIRD PERICOPE OF JOEL REGARDING THE LOCUSTS, 2:1–14 The Relationship Between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 Structure A Call to the People, 2:1 Description of the Disaster, 2:2–11 An Appeal to the People to Return to God, 2:12–14 Summary Chapter 7 -- THE FOURTH PERICOPE OF JOEL REGARDING THE LOCUSTS AND THE PRIESTS’ PRAYER, 2:15–17 The Structure of the Pericope and Its Role Among the Other Locust Pericopes A Call to the People to Assemble, 2:15–16 The Prayer of the Priests to God, 2:17 Summary Part III. JOEL 2:18–4:17: DESCRIPTION OF THE DIVINE RESPONSE Chapter 8 -- AN OVERVIEW OF THE DIVINE RESPONSE IN JOEL 2:18–4:17 The Two-Part Divine Response 2:18—Introduction to God’s Response Chapter 9 -- THE FIRST DIVINE REPLY: SALVATION FROM THE LOCUST PLAGUE, 2:19–27 The Framework of the Unit The Relationship Between God’s Response and the Description of the Locust Plague in 1:2–2:17 The Structure of the Unit Summary Chapter 10 -- THE SECOND DIVINE REPLY: SALVATION FOR THE PEOPLE FROM NATIONAL DISTRESS, 3:1–4:17 The Unit’s Boundaries and Structure The Transition from Agricultural Salvation to Political Salvation The Prophesying of the Masses, Cosmic Signs, the Rescue of Those who Call on the Name of God, and the Punishment of the Enemies, 3:1–4:8 The Prophesying of the Masses, 3:1–2 Cosmic Signs of the Events of the Day of YHWH, 3:3–4 The Rescue of Those Who Call Upon the Name of YHWH, 3:5 The Judgment of the Nations and the Rescue of the People, 4:1–8 The Punishment of the Nations, the Saving of the People, and the Recognition that God Dwells in Jerusalem, 4:9–17 The Salvation of Israel Within the Framework of the Day of YHWH, 4:16–17 Summary Part IV. JOEL 4:18–21: THE CLOSING OF THE BOOK Chapter 11 -- THE FINAL VERSES OF THE BOOK OF JOEL, 4:18–21 Introduction A New Proposal for the Structure and Meaning of 4:18–21: Salvation of the Agriculture (4:18) and National Salvation (4:19–21) The Closing Compared to the Body of the Book Summary Chapter 12 -- CONCLUSION Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors