Joel Bible Study Resources

Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Joel.

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Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Key Words; ** Encylopedias; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** Next **

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Basics

• Author: Joel
• Date: Unknown.
• Possible Dates: a) Early Preexilic: Some think Joel was an early prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Joash (835-796 BC); b) Late Preexilic (609-586 BC); or c) Postexilic (515-350 BC).
• The Hebrew Canon places Joel among the minor prophets after Ezekiel & Hosea and before Amos.
• The Greek canon places Joel after Daniel and Hosea and before Amos.
• I suspect the dating is ambiguous because Joel is relevant to any time of lament or trouble.
• Joel tells the nations that even though some disasters have struck, it is not too late to repent.

Outline

• Chapter 1:1-5 – A plague destroys the land
• Chapter 1:6-2:27 – Vision of the invading army
• Chapter 2:28-3:21 – Future judgment and deliverance

Purposes:

• To warn Judah of the coming Day of the Lord when judgment will get worse for Judah and the nations of the world.
• To urge Judah to repent of their sins.
• To proclaim a future time of complete restoration.

Genre: Understanding Prophecy

Section 1: Background

Background

• Introduction to the Prophets
• Chart: Bible History at a glance
• Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Timeline
• Biblehub: The Divided Kingdom
• Chart: Kings of Israel & Judah
• Bible Atlas: Assyria
• Bible Atlas: Babylon
• Bible Atlas: Chaldea
• Bible Atlas: Jerusalem
• Minor Prophets Quotes in the New Testament
• Jensen’s Survey of the Old Testament
• Hebrew Calendar
• Ray C Stedman: Overview of the Book
• John MacArthur: Introduction to Joel
• NIV: Introduction to Joel
• NIV: The Minor Prophets
• ESV: Introduction to Joel
• ESV: Global Message of Joel
• James van Dine: Analysis of Joel
• David Malick: An Introduction to the Book of Joel
• David Malick: An Argument of the Book of Joel
• JVernon McGee: Hosea and Joel – Introductory Notes, Outlines
• Charles Swindoll: Book of Joel Overview

Section 2: Maps

Maps from Bible-History.com

• Assyrian Conquests
• Judah under Babylon
• Judah under Hezekiah
• Babylonian Empire
• Old Testament Judah

Maps from Studylight.org

• The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (1)
•  The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (2)
• The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (3)
•  The Rise of Assyria  
• Israel & Judah in the days of Jeroboam II and Uzziah
•  Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III  
• The Syro-Ephraimite War
• Tiglath-Pileser III’s Campaigns
• Fall of Samaria and Deportation of Israelites  
• The Fall of the Kingdom of Israel  
• Assyrian Districts after the Fall of Samaria
• Prophets of the 8th Century BCE
• Hezekiah’s Preparation for Revolt
• Judah under King Hezekiah
• Hezekiah’s Jerusalem
• Sennacherib’s Campaign against Judah
•  Assyria in the 7th century BCE
•  The Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
• The Reign of Josiah
• The Districts of Judah under King Josiah
•  The Golden Age of King Josiah
• Nebuchadnezzar’s Campaigns against Judah

Section 3: Key Words

Key Words

• Locust, Zion, day of the Lord (in that day, those days), return, I will, never again, then, now, nations/nation.

Section 4: Encylopedias

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

• Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Joel, Theology Of
• American Tract Society: Joel
• Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Joel
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Joel, Book Of; Joel
• Fausset Bible Dictionary: Joel, the Book Of; Joel
• Holman Bible Dictionary: Joel
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Joel; Joel, Book Of
• Hawker’s Poor Mans: Joel
• Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Joel
• Morrish Bible Dictionary: Joel, Book Of; Joel
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:Joel (1); Joel (2)
• McClintock and Strong: Joel, Book Of.
• The Nuttall Encyclopedia:Joel
• The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia: Joel, Book Of

Section 5: Commentaries

Commentaries & Study Bibles

• Ligionier.org Top 5 Commentaries: Joel
• Tim Challies Best Commentaries:
• Commentary Reviews: Joel
• Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Joel
• Matthew Henry: Joel
• Albert Barnes Notes: Joel
• Reformation Study Bible Notes: Joel
• Geneva Study Bible: Joel
• Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Joel

Section 6: Articles

Articles

• A Critique Of The Prewrath Interpretation Of The Day Of The Lord In Joel 2–3 — By Alan D. Cole (see online article)
• A Doctrinal Study of Acts 2:14 — By Clifford Rapp, Jr.
• Old Testament Passages Referring To The Day Of The Lord — By Warren Vanhetloo
• Duane Garrett: The Structure Of Joel
• J Hampton Keathley: The Minor Prophets
• Tom Hawkins: Joel- Introduction, Outline, and Argument
• Harold Hosch: Joel- The Concept of Prophetic Time in the Book of Joel
• Richard Mayhue: The Prophet’s Watchword: Day of the LORD

Section 7: Got Questions

GotQuestions.org

• Book of Joel – Bible Survey
• What are the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets?
• Is Joel 1:4 referring to literal locusts? When was this prophecy fulfilled?
• Why did God use a locust swarm to punish Israel (Joel 1:4)?
• How does God restore the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25)?
• What does it mean that God will pour out His Spirit on all people (Joel 2:28)?
• Will the sun really be turned to darkness and the moon to blood (Joel 2:31)?
• What is the valley of decision (Joel 3:14)?
• What is bloodguilt (Joel 3:21)?
• What is the Day of the Lord?

Bible Study Help

• Bible Study 101
• Interpreting Prophecy
• Interpreting Hebrew Poetry
• Study Software & websites
• More Maps & Charts
• Hebrew word studies by Precepts Austin
• Books on how to study the Bible

Section 8: Next

Next: Amos

Previous: Hosea

Resources: by Book of the Bible

Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash