THE PROPHET JOEL
JOYALMINISTRIES
Introduction
Joel means "Jehovah is God." This name occurs frequently in the Old
Testament (1 Sam. 8:2; 1 Chronicles 4:35, 5:4, 8, 12, etc.). The
prophet Joel was the son of Pethuel. Numerous guesses have been made
about his personality. A tradition states that he was from Bethom in the
tribe of Reuben. In 1 Chronicles 24:16 a man by name of Pethahiah is
mentioned. Some have connected him with the father of Joel, Pethuel,
claiming upon this that Joel belonged to a priestly family; but this, as
well as other claims cannot be confirmed. Jewish expositors make the
statement that Pethuel was Samuel, because Samuel had a son by name of
Joel; but, inasmuch as the sons of Samuel were evildoers this is
incorrect. The book itself does not give even a single hint as to his
personal history.