The Role of God’s Mighty Acts in Joel : The Book of Joel as an Example of Trauma Literature

Ibolya Balla

Pápa Reformed Theological Seminary , Hungary
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0643-725X


Abstract

The Book of Joel abounds in the descriptions of God’s mighty acts, including his interventions in the workings of nature and the unfolding historical events in the life of Israel and the so-called heathen nations. It has long been recognized that these acts are important in structuring the book as a whole. They can be labelled as negative or positive for the life of Israel, depending on which part of the book we interpret. In the final form of the work there is a centreline between its two major parts (1:1–2:17; 2:19–4:21), separating the descriptions of divine punishment and lament from the accounts of restoration and joy when it comes to the relationship of the covenant community with God: “Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people” (Joel 2:18). This verse also serves as an introduction to 2:19–4:21. What has not yet been examined in detail, however, is that the descriptions of God’s working in the nations’ history and in nature can help read the book from the viewpoint of trauma/crisis and tenacity. In the midst of crises Israel’s only hope is to repent and turn to the Lord to have mercy. In repentance, the prophet’s resilience and compassion is also significant; his words are handed down to us in a form that resembles the terminology, mood and theological teaching of certain lament psalms of the Hebrew Bible, yet representing the tradition of the day of the Lord especially important in prophetic literature. This paper aims at investigating the Book of Joel from the perspec­tive of trauma and tenacity with a view to the scriptural allusions the author employs.

 

Keywords:

Joel, Trauma, Tenacity, Resilience, Day of the Lord, Mighty Acts

Achtemeier, E., “The Book of Joel. Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections,” The New Interpreter’s Bible (Nashville, TN: Abingdon 1996) VII, 299–336.

Ahlström, G.W., Joel and the Temple Cult of Jerusalem (Supplements to Vetus Testamentum 21; Leiden: Brill 1971).

Allen, L.C., The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1976).

Allen, L.C., Ezekiel 20–48 (Word Biblical Commentary 29; Dallas, TX: Word Books 1990).

Baker, D.W., Joel, Obadiah, Malachi (NIV Application Commentary; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan 2006).

Barton, J., Joel and Obadiah. A Commentary (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox 2001).

Beck, M., Der “Tag YHWHs” im Dodekapropheton. Studien im Spannungsfeld von Traditions- und Redaktionsgeschichte (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 356; Berlin – New York: De Gruyter 2005).

Bergler, S., Joel als Schriftinterpret (Beiträge zur Erforschung des Alten Testaments und des antiken Judentums 16; Frankfurt: Lang 1988).

Brueggemann, W., A Commentary on Jeremiah. Exile and Homecoming (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1998).

Collins, J.J., Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress 2004).

Cook, S.L., Prophecy and Apocalypticism. The Post-Exilic Social Setting (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress 1995).

Crenshaw, J.L., Joel. A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (Anchor Bible 24C; New York: Doubleday 1995).

Crenshaw, J.L., “Who Knows What YHWH Will Do? The Character of God in the Book of Joel,” Fortunate the Eyes That See. Essays in Honor of David Noel Freedman in Celebration of His Seventieth Birthday (eds. A.B. Beck et al.) (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1995) 185–196.

Ganzel, T., “The Shattered Dream. The Prophecies of Joel. A Bridge between Ezekiel and Haggai?,” Perspectives on Hebrew Scriptures (ed. E. Ben Zvi) (Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias 2013) VIII, 157–178.

Garrett, D.A., “The Structure of Joel,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 28/3 (1985) 289–297.

House, P.R., “Endings as New Beginnings. Returning to the Lord, the Day of the Lord, and Renewal in the Book of the Twelve,” Thematic Threads in the Book of the Twelve (eds. P.L. Redditt – A. Schart) (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 325; Berlin – New York: De Gruyter 2003) 313–338.

Kapelrud, A.S., Joel Studies (Uppsala: Lundequist 1948).

LeCureux, J.T., “Joel, the Cult, and the Book of The Twelve,” Priests and Cults in the Book of the Twelve (ed. L.-S. Tiemeyer) (Ancient Near East Monographs 14; Atlanta, GA: SBL 2016) 65–79.

Limburg, J., Hosea–Micah (IBC Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching; Atlanta, GA: Knox 1988).

Mallon, E. D., “Joel, Obadiah,” The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice- Hall 1990) 399–405.

Nogalski, J.D., “The Day(s) of YHWH in the Book of the Twelve,” Thematic Threads in the Book of the Twelve (eds. P.L. Redditt – A. Schart) (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 325; Berlin – New York: De Gruyter 2003) 192–213.

Ogden, G.S., “Joel 4 and Prophetic Responses to National Laments,” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 26 (1983) 97–106.

Ogden, G.S. – Deutsch, R.R., A Promise of Hope. A Call to Obedience. A Commentary on the Books of Joel and Malachi (International Theological Commentary; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1987).

Petersen, D.L., The Prophetic Literature. An Introduction (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox 2002).

Pettus, D.D., A Canonical-Critical Study of Selected Traditions in the Book of Joel (PhD Diss. Liberty University; Waco, TX 1992).

Prinsloo, W.S., The Theology of the Book of Joel (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 163; New York: De Gruyter 1985).

Schwesig, P.-G., Die Rolle der Tag-JHWHs-Dichtungen im Dodekapropheton (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 366; Berlin – New York: De Gruyter 2006).

Strazicich, J., Joel’s Use of Scripture and the Scripture’s Use of Joel. Appropriation and Resignification in Second Temple Judaism and Early Christianity (Biblical Interpretation Series 82; Leiden – Boston, MA: Brill 2007).

Sweeney, M.A., Isaiah 1–39 with an Introduction to Prophetic Literature (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans

.

Sweeney, M.A., “The Place and Function of Joel in the Book of the Twelve,” Thematic Threads in the Book of the Twelve (eds. P.L. Redditt – A. Schart) (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 325; Berlin – New York: De Gruyter 2003) 133–154.

Thompson, J.A. – Langford, N.F., “The Book of Joel. Introduction, Exegesis and Exposition,” Interpreter’s Bible (eds. G.A. Buttrick et al.) (New York – Nashville, TN: Abingdon 1956) VI, 727–760.

VanGemeren, W.A., “The Spirit of Restoration,” Westminster Theological Journal 50 (1988) 81–102.

Watts, J.D.W., The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1975).

Wolff, H.W., Dodekapropheton. II. Joel und Amos (Biblischer Kommentar. Altes Testament 14; Neukirchen- Vluyn: Neukirchener 1969).

Download

Published
2021-01-28


Balla, I. (2021). The Role of God’s Mighty Acts in Joel : The Book of Joel as an Example of Trauma Literature. The Biblical Annals, 11(1), 63–78. https://doi.org/10.31743/biban.9700

Ibolya Balla  karib34@hotmail.com
Pápa Reformed Theological Seminary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0643-725X



License

  1. Pursuant to the Act on Copyright and Related Rights of February 4, 1994, the Author of the publication grants to the Publisher of the journal „The Biblical Annals” e a non-exclusive and royalty-free license to use the Work submitted for publication, without time and territorial restrictions in the following fields of use:
    a) record the Work and copy it by means of any technique (including printing and electronic recording) on all known data carriers (including IT, electronic and polygraphic), and in all IT systems (in particular those available online);
    b) enter the Work into computer memory, disseminate the Work and its copies, as well as market the Work and its copies;
    c) publicly perform, replay, display and screen the Work, as well as lend, rent and lease the Work and its copies;
    d) make available, market and disseminate the Work and its copies via IT networks, and in particular via the Internet, including the promotion or advertising of the Work, the journal or the Publisher.
  2. The Author shall further grant his/her consent for the Publisher to use and dispose of derivative works.
  3. The Publisher may sublicense the work.
  4. Third parties may use the articles and other materials containing the Works, or developed on the basis of the Works in line with the model Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (also referred to as CC BY 4.0).