Joel (Hebrew: יואל) was a prophet of ancient Israel, the second of the twelve minor prophets and the author of the Book of Joel.He is mentioned by name only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the introduction to his own brief book, as the son of Pethuel (Joel 1:1). The name Joel combines the covenant name of God, YHWH (sometimes written Jehovah), and el (god), and has been translated as "one to whom Jehovah is God," that is, a worshipper of YHWH.
The dates of his life are unknown; he may have lived anywhere from the 9th century BCE to the 5th century BCE, depending on the dating of his book. He was from Judah/Judea, and, judging from its prominence in his prophecy, was quite possibly a prophet associated with the ritual of the temple of Jerusalem.
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