Joel was probably a resident in Judah, as his commission was to that people. He makes frequent mention of Judah and Jerusalem (1:14; 2:1,15,32; 3:1,12,17,20,21). He probably flourished in the reign of Uzziah (about B.C. 800), and was contemporary with Amos and Isaiah. The contents of this book are, A prophecy of a great public calamity then impending over the land, consisting of a want of water and an extraordinary plague of locusts ((1:1-2:11).). The prophet then calls on his countrymen to repent and to turn to God, assuring them of his readiness to forgive (2:12-17), and foretelling the restoration of the land to its accustomed fruitfulness (18-26). Then follows a Messianic prophecy, quoted by Peter ( Acts 2:39 ). Finally, the prophet foretells portents and judgments as destined to fall on the enemies of God (ch. 3, but in the Hebrew text 4).
Source
- part_of
source-manifest/easton— Easton's Bible Dictionary (PD)