1. OTS 501 OLD TESTAMENT INTRO AND LITEARTURE
Dr. Esa Autero

2. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
1.1 Introduction to Joel
Who was Joel?
What do we know about Joel?
When and where did he prophecy?
Have you heard a sermon on Joel that did not refer to NT passages?

3. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
1.2 Historical and Critical Issues
Author, date, composition
Who is Joel? Joel, son of Pethuel
Date Joel was written clouded in mystery
Suggestions from 800s-100sBC
Why is the date of a biblical book important?
Historical context influences the interpretation
Some issues to consider in the dating of Joel
Assumes the ongoing Temple operations (1:9, 13-16; 2:15-17)
Elders and priests as leaders (1:2, 13; 2:16)
7-year Joash on the throne (2Kgs 11)

4. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
Judah is called Israel (2:27; 3:2, 16) – Israel destroyed?
Similar phraseology b/w Joel and other prophets
 Who is dependent on who?
Joel used earlier materials (or vice versa)? Stock phrases?
Joel and the other OT prophets
Joel 1:15
Isa 13:6
2:3
Isa 51:3; Ezek 36:35
2:10
Isa 13:10
3:10
Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3
3:16
Am 1:2; Isa 13:13
3:17
Ezek 36:11; Isa 52:1
3:18
Am 9:13

5. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
Similarity of theological concepts
Fountain flowing from the Temple (3:18/Zech14:3-8/Ezek47:1-12)
Dispersion of Jews in the surrounding lands (3:1-2)
Joel’s position in the canon – b/w 8th century prophets
Or b/c of other similarities (3:16, 18; Am 1:2; 9:13)
Two possible settings
Postexilic date (c BC)
Invasion of Judah by Assyria and/or Babylon (701; 598; 588)
Unity and composition
Many events generalized – e.g. confession of sins (1:13-14; 2:13-14)
Liturgical(?) and trans-historical character
Probably single author +later editing (minor)
Possibly 2:28-3:21

6. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
1.3 Background, purpose, structure
Historical background – depends on the dating
If postexilic – Persian period
Joel would be familiar w/ other prophetic writings
Time of Zerubbabel (and Haggai and Zechariah 530BC) OR
Time of Ezra and Nehemiah (and Malachi 420BC)
 Time b/w the two periods
Purpose of Joel
Addresses the “day of the LORD”
Correlate it with the locust plague as inception and anticipation of the DAY

7. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
Structure of Joel
Superscription (1:1)
The locust plague judgment (1:2-20)
Judgment and call to repentance – day of YHWH
Locust army and the day of YHWH (2:1-17)
Description of the locust army
Call to repentance 3:1
Blessing, restoration & judgment of the nations (2:18-3:21)
The promise of blessing and renewal
Abundance as a restoration to locust destruction
Outpouring of the Spirit
Judgment of the nations

8. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
1.4 Themes in Joel
The Day of YHWH and locust plague
Locust plague – God’s chastening and judgment
Israel needs to repent or greater intrusion of locusts (armies)
God as the sovereign over the nations
Day of YHWH – eschatological battle against evil
Israel’s judgment and prosperity
Nations judged

9. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
2.1 Introduction to Amos
What do you know about Amos?
Familiar sections or sayings?
NT quotes?
Am 9:11-12//Acts 15:16-17
Heard sermons on Amos?

10. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
2.2 Historical and Critical Issues
Author, date, composition
Amos as the traditional author
Unified work by Amos the prophet
Critical views and authorship/composition
Amos the prophet behind some of the traditions
Possible later sections or editing
3rd person narrative & intrusion into the section of visions (7:10-17)
Oracles against the foreign nations – slightly diff. form (Am 1-2)
“Hymn fragments” (1:2; 4:13; 5:8-9; 8:8; 9:5-6)
Salvation promises (9:11-15) pro-Judahite and postexilic
Further editing (3:7; 5:13)
 ‘piece-meal’ approach – more recent scholarship - general unity

11. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
More likely scenario for the composition
Amos wrote or committed to writing most oracles
1st person oracles
Written some time after the actual preaching event
Writing perhaps prompted by the earthquake (1:1; cf. 9:1; Zech 14: major earthquake dated to 760BC)
 Possible minor editing later on
Amos written around BC

12. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
2.3 Background, purpose, structure
Historical background
Prophet Amos – from Tekoa (in Judah near Bethlehem)
Poor and humble shepherd, mid-level manager OR elite?
Humble shepherd still most viable option (7:15)
Amos – as a prophet or not a prophet? (7:14-15; 7:12)
Prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam II
First of the classical prophets – against Israel (north)
For how long did Amos prophecy? 1/2hr to years! ( BC)
Prophesied in royal sanctuary in Bethel (7:12-13)
Historical setting (2Kgs14:17-15:7; 2 Chr 26) [c BC]
Prosperity and geographical expansion
Good relations b/w Israel and Judah

13. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
Purpose
“the end has come to my people” (8:2)
Social and moral corruption of Israel (north)
Prophecy of judgment and doom – w/ some rays of hope
The Day of the LORD – a day of disaster, not of blessing (5:18)
Structure
Four basic sections
Eight oracles against the nations (1:3-2:16)
Five prophetic words (3-6)
Five prophetic visions (7:1-9:10)
Epilogue – blessing and renewal for Israel (9:11-15)

14. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
2.4 Themes in Amos
Social justice
Prophecy against socio-economic injustice of Israel
War-crimes and injustice of the nations (1:3-2:5)
False weights and “obsession” over commerce (8:5-6)
Bribery and injustice (2:7; 5:7, 11-12, 15, 24; 6:12)
Needy & righteous, poor and afflicted oppressed (2:6-7; 5:11)
Riches and luxurious living at the expense of the poor & needy (5:1; 5:11; 6:4-6; 8:4-6) – first to go to exile (5:25; 6:7)
Violence, violence, sexual immorality (2:7-8)
God’s blessing only if people
“establish justice” (5:15): “seek me and live” (5:4, 6, 14)
Justice instead of ritual (5:20-24)

15. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
Election of Israel and the Day of the LORD
Two traditional themes subverted
Day of the LORD – thought of as day of deliverance (6:18-20)
“darkness not light” “gloom no brightness” – due to injustice
Election of Israel and exodus – relativized due to arrogance
Israel is like other nations – Cush; Philistines from Caphor (Crete), Arameans from Kir (Elam[?]) (9:7)
Judgment due to election (3:1-2)

16. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
3.1 Introduction to Obadiah
Who was Obadiah?
Have you ever heard a sermon on Obadiah?
What theme?
What is the point of the 21 verses of Obadiah in the OT?

17. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
3.2 Historical and Critical Issues
Author, composition, date
Obadiah as the traditional author (1:1)
Who was Obadiah? Ahab’s servant? (1 Kgs 18:3-16)
No info on Obadiah in the book – identity uncertain
“Worshipper of YHWH” (LXX, Vulgate); “Servant of YHWH” (MT)
Critical scholarship and the composition
1) 1-14, 15b from Obadiah (concrete situation) – 15a, later addition (distant day of the LORD)
2) 1-18 from Obadiah (about historical Edom) – later addition (oracle addressed to Israel about the future)
3) Essential unity: oracles addressed to Israel though Edom and the nations addressed in (phrase reps. 1-4, 15-21; 8-10, 11-14)

18. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
Obadiah and Jeremiah – near verbatim parallels
1b-4//Jer 49:14-16 and 5-6//Jer 49:9-10
Which came first? Literary dependence? Common source?
Obadiah’s or Jeremiah’s priority?
Common anti-Edomite source adapted by both
Date
Date range from 850BC to 400BC based on vv
Attack on Jerusalem by Philistines and Arabs during the reign of Jehoram in 844BC (2Chr 21:16-17; 2Kgs 8:16-20) OR
Destruction Jerusalem by Babylonians in 587BC (2Kgs25:1-12)
 Most likely written in the 6th century BC

19. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
3.3 Background, purpose, structure
Historical background
Edom & Israel – Esau & Jacob
Edom = Esau (Deut 2:4-5);
Hor (Num 20:23); Seir (Gen 36:8-9)
Denied passage during Ex (Num 21:4)
Relationship w/ Israel (1Sam 14:47;
2Kgs8:20-22; 24:8-17; 1Esd 4:50)
Date of collapse unknown (Mal1:2-4)
Historical situation of Obadiah
Edom’s raids to Judea during the fall
of Jerusalem (Ps 137:7; Lam 4:21-22)

20. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
Purpose and structure
Condemnation of Edom for cruelty over sacking Jerusalem (2-9)
YHWH’s ultimate triumph and judgment of nations (10-14)
Salvation of Israel (15-16)
Structure of Obadiah
Superscription (1a)
YHWH’s message against Edom (1b-14)
The Day of the LORD (15-21)

21. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
3.4 Themes of Obadiah
Pride, retribution, judgment, and restoration
Message of the prophets in a nutshell
Pride (and violence) of Edom and other nations (1-14)
Judgment of God due to arrogance (15)
Retribution - “As you have done…shall be done to you” (15)
Deliverance and salvation of Israel (17, 21)

22. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
4.1 Introduction to Jonah
What is peculiar about Jonah compared to other prophetic books?
What is the most common context for hearing the story in the evangelical churches?
What about the strange features?
Giant fish w/ stomach problems; super-fast growing plant; animals repenting etc.

23. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
4.2 Historical and Critical Issues
Author, composition, date
Traditional view – unified work by Jonah (cf. 2Kgs 14:24)
Jonah is anonymous – no references to an author
Historical narrative about Jonah the prophet
Jesus refers to Jonah and Nineveh (Matt 12:39-40; Lk 11:29-30)
Critical theories: historicity & genre as major challenges
Jonah as fictional story or edifying parable b/c
Jonah in fish’s belly
Super-growth of the plant and the worm (4:6-7)
Repentance of animals (3:7-8)
Size of Nineveh and “king of Nineveh” (3:3-5)
Peculiar literary qualities

24. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
Some responses from the evangelical scholars
God, miracles, and the worldview
Defending the plausibility of the “fish story”(?) (e.g. Aalders [1948]; cf. Page 1995 [NAC])
More historically oriented questions open to investigation
Animals and the mourning rites in Herodotus and Judith 4:10
“They and their…cattle…all put sackcloth…prostrated… ” (Jud 4:10-11)
“King of Nineveh” – local governor or actual king (cf. 1Kgs 21:1)
Size of Nineveh could indicate the size of the task (cf. Neh 2:6) or reference to the province of Nineveh
Literary genre seems to be narrative though highly artistic
Jesus seems to refer to Jonah as a real person (Matt 12:39-40)

25. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
Evaluation and further comments
Was Jonah meant as straight forward historical narrative?
Many, not all, evangelicals view Jonah as historical narration
Jesus meant Jonah as historical event or as an illustration?
Like a modern preacher could ask believers to imitate the Good Samaritan or Prodigal’s repentance w/o assuming the parables are historical events
E.g. “something greater than Jonah is here” – “we should demonstrate even greater self-sacrifice than the Good Samaritan”
Does this undermine the authority of the text?
How was Jonah intended to be understood?
Does the message of Jonah depend on the question of historicity?
Composition and date
Unified composition
Date difficult to establish – c BC [612BC fall of Nineveh]

26. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
4.3 Background, purpose, structure
Historical background
Setting of Jonah in 8th century BC
Jonah lived during the reign of Jeroboam II ( BC)
Son of Amittai from Gath-Hepher
Prophesied the expansion of Israel (2Kgs 14:23-25)
Purpose
Demonstrate God’s judgment and mercy to
Jonah the Hebrew prophet
Nineveh the pagan nation

27. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
Structure
God’s first call to Jonah (1:1-16)
God’s rescue of Jonah and his response (1:17-2:10)
God’s second call of Jonah & Nineveh’s response (3:1-9)
God’s rescue of Nineveh and Jonah’s response (3:10-4:5)
Lesson and God’s right to compassion (4:6-11)

28. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
4.4 Themes in Jonah
God’s judgment and mercy
God’s judgment to
Nineveh’s wickedness (1:2)
Jonah: storm, worm, east wind (1:4; 4:7-8)
God’s mercy toward
Nineveh – warning of destruction, deliverance (1:2; 3:1-5; 4:11)
Jonah: fish, vine (1:17; 4:6)
Compare and contrast Jonah and gentiles
Reluctance and anger of Jonah
Fear of the sailors, repentance of Nineveh

29. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah