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Yoel, whose name in Hebrew means “Yawheh is God,” was called by God to minister to the southern kingdom of Judah, we believe, around 835 B.C. when the then seven-year-old Joash sat on the throne. At the time, however, Jehoida the priest would have functioned as the real ruler of Judah until Joash came of age.
Some scholars, however, believe that Joel might have ministered and prophesied to the returning exiles from Babylon and Persia, almost four hundred years later. It is difficult to know for certain, however, there are a few key details in Joel’s writing that point more to the 835 B.C. date, than him ministering in 450 B.C. or later.
For one thing, Joel never mentions dominant world powers like Assyria, Babylon, and Persia that had already come and gone (or waned) by the time of the Jewish return to Jerusalem in the 5th century B.C.
Secondly, there are similarities in Joel’s style of writing to that of Hosea and Amos, biblical prophets who also ministered to Israel and Judah in the 8th century after Joel’s ministry. In fact, the verbal parallels between Joel 3:16 and Amos 1:2 , and Joel 3:18 and Amos 9:13 are of note.
For this reason, the 835 B.C. date – sometime during the reign of Joash – becomes most probable.
Also, if Joel prophesied during this time, he would have been a contemporary of the prophet Elisha, who ministered to the northern kingdom of Israel at the same time.
What Do We Actually Know about Joel?
Unfortunately, outside of his own writing, there’s not much written about Joel either in the Bible or historical account.

Joel identifies himself as the son of Pethuel, a name mentioned nowhere else in the Old Testament (Joel 1:1 ).
Some believe Joel may have been a priest of the tribe of Levi, given his passion for temple sacrifices (Joel 1:9 ; 2:13-16). However, his familiarity with pastoral and agricultural life (Joel 1:13-14 ; 2:17) suggests he probably wasn’t a Levite.
Beyond the Bible, some historical records hint that Joel might have been from the tribe of Reuben and lived in the town of Bethom (or Bethharam), north of the Dead Sea, but as John MacArthur notes in his commentary, the context of Joel’s prophecy suggests he was from Judea and lived near or around Jerusalem, a city he seems familiar with.
However, what we ultimately know about Joel, who he was, and when he ministered, are probably less important than his actual ministry and message. According to Macarthur, “the message of Joel is timeless, forming doctrine which could be repeated and applied to any age.” (983)
And though Joel is considered one of the “minor” prophets, there is nothing minor or insignificant about his ministry and message. This is a term used to classify smaller books like Joel and Amos (among others) from the longer writings of prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Therefore, to understand a little more about Joel, it is necessary to explore what he actually had to say and what his book is really about.
Why Was Joel Called to Minister to Judah?
By the time Joel was called to minister to Judah, the Southern Kingdom had been in a state of disarray and decline for years, both economically and spiritually.

Rival nations and city states such as Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia had made frequent incursions into Israel, and a recent locust plague and drought had devastated Judah’s economy (Joel 1:4 ). Needless to say, Judah was weak from the inside out. It was a time of national mourning, where, as Joel writes, “all the trees of the field dry up. Indeed, rejoicing dries up from the sons of men” (Joel 1:12 ).
Like many biblical prophets, Joel was sent by God to get the people’s attention in a time of depression and decline. However, unlike many prophets, Joel does not address specific sin or idolatry on the part of the Judah. Rather, he uses the recent calamity of the locust plague to teach a prophetic lesson.
What was that lesson?
Speaking to the elders of Judah, Joel calls all members of society to take seriously the current locust plague. Why? Because as bad as this calamity was, it was nothing in comparison to what was to come from God if the people did not repent and turn back to Him.
Throughout the book of Joel, the theme of disaster is prevalent, if not dominant.

Looking back at the economic hardship brought on by the locust plague was intended to encourage the people to look forward to the great and terrible Day of the Lord, a phrase mentioned nineteen times by eight different Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Malachi, and Joel.

Description

Yoel, whose name in Hebrew means “Yawheh is God,” was called by God to minister to the southern kingdom of Judah, we believe, around 835 B.C. when the then seven-year-old Joash sat on the throne. At the time, however, Jehoida the priest would have functioned as the real ruler of Judah until Joash came of age.
Some scholars, however, believe that Joel might have ministered and prophesied to the returning exiles from Babylon and Persia, almost four hundred years later. It is difficult to know for certain, however, there are a few key details in Joel’s writing that point more to the 835 B.C. date, than him ministering in 450 B.C. or later.
For one thing, Joel never mentions dominant world powers like Assyria, Babylon, and Persia that had already come and gone (or waned) by the time of the Jewish return to Jerusalem in the 5th century B.C.
Secondly, there are similarities in Joel’s style of writing to that of Hosea and Amos, biblical prophets who also ministered to Israel and Judah in the 8th century after Joel’s ministry. In fact, the verbal parallels between Joel 3:16 and Amos 1:2 , and Joel 3:18 and Amos 9:13 are of note.
For this reason, the 835 B.C. date – sometime during the reign of Joash – becomes most probable.
Also, if Joel prophesied during this time, he would have been a contemporary of the prophet Elisha, who ministered to the northern kingdom of Israel at the same time.
What Do We Actually Know about Joel?
Unfortunately, outside of his own writing, there’s not much written about Joel either in the Bible or historical account.

Joel identifies himself as the son of Pethuel, a name mentioned nowhere else in the Old Testament (Joel 1:1 ).
Some believe Joel may have been a priest of the tribe of Levi, given his passion for temple sacrifices (Joel 1:9 ; 2:13-16). However, his familiarity with pastoral and agricultural life (Joel 1:13-14 ; 2:17) suggests he probably wasn’t a Levite.
Beyond the Bible, some historical records hint that Joel might have been from the tribe of Reuben and lived in the town of Bethom (or Bethharam), north of the Dead Sea, but as John MacArthur notes in his commentary, the context of Joel’s prophecy suggests he was from Judea and lived near or around Jerusalem, a city he seems familiar with.
However, what we ultimately know about Joel, who he was, and when he ministered, are probably less important than his actual ministry and message. According to Macarthur, “the message of Joel is timeless, forming doctrine which could be repeated and applied to any age.” (983)
And though Joel is considered one of the “minor” prophets, there is nothing minor or insignificant about his ministry and message. This is a term used to classify smaller books like Joel and Amos (among others) from the longer writings of prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Therefore, to understand a little more about Joel, it is necessary to explore what he actually had to say and what his book is really about.
Why Was Joel Called to Minister to Judah?
By the time Joel was called to minister to Judah, the Southern Kingdom had been in a state of disarray and decline for years, both economically and spiritually.

Rival nations and city states such as Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia had made frequent incursions into Israel, and a recent locust plague and drought had devastated Judah’s economy (Joel 1:4 ). Needless to say, Judah was weak from the inside out. It was a time of national mourning, where, as Joel writes, “all the trees of the field dry up. Indeed, rejoicing dries up from the sons of men” (Joel 1:12 ).
Like many biblical prophets, Joel was sent by God to get the people’s attention in a time of depression and decline. However, unlike many prophets, Joel does not address specific sin or idolatry on the part of the Judah. Rather, he uses the recent calamity of the locust plague to teach a prophetic lesson.
What was that lesson?
Speaking to the elders of Judah, Joel calls all members of society to take seriously the current locust plague. Why? Because as bad as this calamity was, it was nothing in comparison to what was to come from God if the people did not repent and turn back to Him.
Throughout the book of Joel, the theme of disaster is prevalent, if not dominant.

Looking back at the economic hardship brought on by the locust plague was intended to encourage the people to look forward to the great and terrible Day of the Lord, a phrase mentioned nineteen times by eight different Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Malachi, and Joel.