Bible Question:
When was the book of Joel written because all the time I was thinking it was written before the exile in 586 BC. The NIV says it was writtten between 835-796 BC. The NKJV says in 805 BC. But now I hear some say it was written in the postexilic period 500-350 BC. I am confused really. Can I get a correct picture on this book of Joel? |
Bible Answer: Hello Mylwa, This is a very good question and the honest answer is that we don't know. I am in agreement with Charis's eariler post about the dating, and Ryrie's Study Bible says, "Joel ... apparently wrote during the days of young King Jehoash (835-796), who was under the regency of priests when he ascended the throne of Judah at the age of seven (2 Kings 11:21). Though some date the book after the Exile, the enemies of Judah are not identified in the prophecy as Arameans, Assyrians, or Babylonians, as would be the case if the book were written after the captivity (see Joel 3:4,19)." However, Nelson's NKJV Study Bible says, "Others believe that the Book of Joel is so close in tone and idea to the Book of Zephaniah that it is likely that the two prophets were contemporaries. The primary evidence for this as the fact that both books prominently feature the concept of the impending 'day of the Lord' (compare 2:1, 2 with Zeph. 1:14-16). Since Zephaniah's book dates from around 627 B.C., a number of scholars assign a date of about 600 B.C. for the Book of Joel." So as you can see, there is little 'hard evidence' for agreement here. |