Author and Date. 

        Nothing is known of Joel except his name and the obvious inference from his prophecy that he lived in Judea. The order of the Minor Prophets gives the impression that the scribes responsible for it aimed at approximate chronological order, modified where necessary by spiritual considerations. This creates a presumption in favour of an early date for the Book of Joel. From the internal evidence of the book itself we are virtually tied down either to a date early in the reign of Joash of Judah (i.e. shortly after 836 B.C.), or to one after the Exile — anything from 500 to 200 B.C. has been suggested.

        We do not consider either dating conclusively proved, and we here deal with Joel in his traditional position, for while the interpretation of the book is hardly influenced by its dating, its message underlies all written Hebrew prophecy.