The book of Joel is held to be one of the latest prophetic witnesses; it cites other books of the book of the Twelve prophets with a density that distinguishes it from its neighbours. The concept of the "Day of the LORD" which runs throughout the Minor Prophets as a whole reaches its zenith in Joel and its co-mingling of ecological and military metaphors advances Hosea on the former and anticipates later texts on the latter.In this volume within T&T Clark's International Theological Commentary Series Christopher Seitz starts from a foundation of historical-critical methodology to provide an account of Joel's place and purpose within the book of the Twelve prophets as a whole. Seitz examines the theology and background of Joel, and shows how Joel's theological function can provide a major hermeneutical key to the interpretation of the wider collection, and teases out the precise character of that role.

ForewordIntroduction1. Joel as a Prophet Among Prophets: The Challenge2. A Canonical Reading of Joel and the History of Interpretation3. Joel and Prior Prophecy4. The Unity of the Book of Joel and Modern Research5. Intertextuality: Joel's Character as Prophet6. Who is Joel?7. The Message and Purpose of the Book of Joel8. The Day of the Lord in the Book of Joel9. The Living God of Joel in the Lived Life of the ChurchBibliography