Joel (The Anchor Yale Bible Commentary | AYBC)
Overview
Scripture scholar James L. Crenshaw captures the ominous, yet hopeful spirit of Joel’s prophecy in his new translation and commentary.
Joel’s prophecy has an unexpectedly familiar ring to it. The biblical book of Joel is relevant to our world because it confronts an age when people tolerated almost anything, did not want someone telling them how to live their lives, and had difficulty distinguishing right from wrong. It was at once a time of self-indulgence and a time of spiritual decay. The economic and political disparity of the day, combined with widespread social injustice and deviant religious practices, brought about God’s judgment on his chosen people, the Judahites. Pleading the litany of sins in Joel is like reading the newspaper; things have not changed much in 2,500 years.
Leading Scripture scholar James L. Crenshaw’s fresh translation of the biblical prophecy of Joel combines the latest research into Hebrew language and literature with down-to-earth insights into how Joel’s words relate to the modern world. Drawing upon a thorough analysis of the book’s grammar and philology, literary forms and context, religious and social situation, and historical setting, Crenshaw offers the most informed and up-to-date commentary available. For those who want to read and understand Joel, this book is indispensable.
Logos Bible Software gives you the tools you need to use this volume effectively and efficiently. With your digital library, you can search for verses, find Scripture references and citations instantly, and perform word studies. Along with your English translations, all Scripture passages are linked to Greek and Hebrew texts. What’s more, hovering over a Scripture reference will instantly display your verse! The advanced tools in your digital library free you to dig deeper into one of the most important contributions to biblical scholarship in the past century!
- Offers original translations, including alternative translations, annotations, and variants
- Provides verse-by-verse commentary on the text
- Presents the reader with historical background, including analysis of authorship and dating
- Features an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary literature
- The Superscription (1:1)
- Divine Judgment against Judah and Its Response (1:2–2:17)
- A Summons to Lament and Return to YHWH (1:2–20)
- YHWH’s Efficient Army (2:1–11)
- A Call to Return to YHWH and to Lament (2:12–17)
- The Restoration of Judah and Divine Judgment on Foreign Nations
- Replacing What the Locusts Consumed (2:18–27)
- Signs and Portents (3:1–5 [2:28–32])
- YHWH’s Reasons for Judging the Nations (4:1–3 [3:1–3])
- Special Instances of Divine Recompense (4:4–8 [3:4–8])
- YHWH’s Judgment against the Nations (4:9–16 [3:9–16])
- Judah’s Security Is Assured (4:17–21 [3:17–21])
Top Highlights
“Invoking YHWH’s name implied both privilege and responsibility. To come under divine protection in a covenantal relationship meant surrendering to certain obligations of fealty, the worshipper agreeing to keep YHWH’s statutes and to render exclusive loyalty to him.” (Page 169)
“The elitism underlying Num 12:6 has completely disappeared” (Page 166)
“The ancient expression of Moses’ desire that YHWH would endow everyone with prophetic gifts (Num 11:29) and the subsequent promise of a new heart (Jer 31:33–34) and spirit (Ezek 11:19–20; 36:26–27) have prepared the way for Joel’s use of this tradition.” (Page 164)
“warfare, although approaching eschatological imagery about a conflagration that will usher in God’s kingdom on earth” (Page 171)
“thus implying that even the thirstiest valley will have flowing water.” (Page 200)
- Title: Joel
- Author: James L. Crenshaw
- Series: Anchor Yale Bible (AYB)
- Publisher: Yale University Press
- Publication Date: 2007
- Pages: 272