The Book of Joel

(An outline by Ralph W. Klein, heavily dependent on John Barton, Joel and Obadiah)

Book I Oracles of Joel

1:1 Superscription

1:2-4 Details of disaster

1:5-14 Call to lament

1:15-20 The lament

 

2:1-11 Details of disaster

2:12-17a Call to lament

2:17bc The lament

 

2:18-27 Divine response (Behold, I am sending you grain, wine, and oil….I will remove the northerner far from you….the pastures of the wilderness have become green)

 

Book II Oracles of Salvation (Deutero-Joel)

 

  1. 2:28-29 Outpouring of God’s Spirit on all flesh (cf. Acts 2:16-21)
  2. 2:30-32 The Day of Yahweh (everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will escape)
  3. 3:1-3 Judgment on nations
  4. 3:4-8 Judgment on Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia (Latest oracle in book: 400-350; Sidon destroyed in 343)
  5. 3:9-13 Judgment on the nations (Beat your plowshares into swords….Bring down your warriors, Yahweh)
  6. 3:14-15 Day of Yahweh
  7. 3:16 Yahweh roars from Zion (cf. Amos 1:2)
  8. 3:17 Holiness of Jerusalem
  9. 3:18 Miraculous fruitfulness (the mountains shall drip sweet wine; cf. Amos 9:13)
  10. 3:19-21 Judgment on Egypt and Edom