- Does the prophet give any information as to his biography other than the name of his father?
- Is there any indication as to where or when Joel is prophesying?
- The prophets frequently had a name related to God. In the instance of Joel and his father what is the term for Divinity?
- Does Joel 1:2 indicate to which elders Joel is speaking — Israel? Judea? In the exile of Babylonia?
- Would Joel 1:3 indicate that what the prophet is about to relate is in the category of the “unusual” or the “usual”?
- On first reading, would Joel 1:4 indicate a natural disaster?
- But, with Joel 1:5-6, would the description in Joel 1:4 actually be an allegory?
- Does the prophet identify “my land” as Israel? As Judea? And does he indicate a date when this invasion and this destruction took place?
- Where does Joel 1:8 appear in one of the megillot?
- Would Joel 1:9 indicate that God’s house is still standing but that there are no activities taking place therein?
- Through Joel 1:12 the prophet dirges agricultural destruction; in the light of the earlier sentences would this be ascribed to natural devastation or to the devastation wrought by the enemy?
- And, once again the question: is the land so ravaged or the time of ravaging set forth?
- Would Joel 1:13 indicate that the mourning of the Kohanim is due to the destruction of the Temple or to the fact that the Temple is deserted?
- And, who are the “servants of my God” — is this a cognomen for the Kohanim? For the Leviim? For some other category?
- In Joel 1:14, is Bet Adonai the Temple or might this be a reference to some other house of worship?
- In Joel 1:15, is “the day of Adonai” considered a positive day (redemption, salvation, joy) or something quite other?
- And, in Joel 1:15, another cognomen for Divinity is set forth — has this been typical in the prophetic writings or is it unusual?
- In Joel 1:17-20, is the disaster afflicting nature and the land a derivative of natural events or would it appear to be the result of devastation by a human enemy?
- Does Joel 1 end on any note of hope?
- Is there any response from the unidentified group that the prophet is addressing?
