Second among the so-called Minor Prophets of Israel stands the prophecy of Joel. Its three chapters (four chapters in Hebrew—1:1–20; 2:1–27; 3:1–5 [ = Eng. 2:28–32]; 4:1–21 [ = Eng. 3:1–21]) represent a distinctive document, for, apart from a brief introduction in 1:1, Joel contains few of the marks of prophetic literature. It has none of the usual attacks on the social, religious, and moral failures of the nation, no indictment of its leaders; it employs few of the recognized prophetic