Second book of the Twelve Minor Prophets. Some implied that the prophet Joel lived in the time of King Jehoram son of Ahab (BT. Ta'an. 5a), while others maintained he prophesied in the time of King Manasseh (Seder Olam 20). Modern scholars placed him later, at the end of the sixth and beginning of the fifth centuries. BCE.
The book has four chapters. The first two tell of a locust plague striking Judah, a call for repentance, the departure of locusts, and renewed prosperity and growth. The last two chapters foretell the punishment of the nations and of the return of Jews to Zion.
