The Book of Joel : A Prophet between Calamity and Hope

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.

“The monograph is written for a scholarly audience with extensive footnotes and bibliography. It is clearly written and well argued.” —Stephen Breck Reid, Baylor University, TX, Review of Biblical Literature

“This book represents a large amount of careful research through a large block of material in the Hebrew Bible, and so C. is to be congratulated on this work. It will prove to be an additional resource for those interested in the subject of prophecy in general and the intricacies of fulfillment of predictive prophecy and lack thereof in particular. The book is written in very readable prose, and ample footnotes throughout provide the reader with a solid research paper trail […] C's book will prove to be a strong contribution to the field and a must read for scholar's and student interested in biblical prophecy and the theology of the Deuteronomistic history.” —Jason Bember, Catholic Biblical Quarterly