# The book of Joel

> Joel opens with a locust plague that strips the land. He calls the people to return to God with their whole heart and looks ahead to the day of the LORD, when God will pour out his Spirit on all people.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/joel/about
Section: Minor prophets · 3 chapters

## Who wrote Joel?

Joel son of Pethuel. Nothing else is known about him.

## When was it written?

Uncertain. Suggestions run from the 800s BC to about 400 BC.

## Main themes

- **Return to God.** “Tear your hearts and not your garments.”
- **The day of the LORD.** A day of judgment and of rescue.
- **The Spirit poured out.** Peter quotes Joel at Pentecost in Acts 2.

## Outline

- Chapter 1: [The locust plague](https://www.lumin.faith/read/joel/1)
- Chapter 2: [A call to return and the Spirit promised](https://www.lumin.faith/read/joel/2)
- Chapter 3: [The nations judged and Judah restored](https://www.lumin.faith/read/joel/3)

## Key verses

Quoted from the Lumin Translation.

> Tear your hearts and not your garments. Return to Yahweh your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and he relents from sending disaster.
> — [Joel 2:13](https://www.lumin.faith/read/joel/2#13)

> I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and the cutting locust—my great army that I sent against you.
> — [Joel 2:25](https://www.lumin.faith/read/joel/2#25)

> After this I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.
> — [Joel 2:28](https://www.lumin.faith/read/joel/2#28)

## Where to start

Chapter 2 is the center. It is a short book; read all three chapters. [Read Joel 2](https://www.lumin.faith/read/joel/2.md)

Read the whole book: https://www.lumin.faith/read/joel/1.md
Ask about it: https://www.lumin.faith/ask.md