Joel 1

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895 CE), the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916), Aleppo Codex (10th century), Codex Leningradensis (1008).[7] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, including 4Q78 (4QXII^c; 75–50 BCE) with extant verses 10–20;[8][9][10][11] and 4Q82 (4QXII^g; 25 BCE) with extant verses 12–14.[8][9][12][13]

Ancient manuscripts in Koine Greek containing this chapter are mainly of the Septuagint version, including Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^Q; 6th century).[14]

The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.[15]

The name "Joel" means "one to whom Jehovah is God", that is, a "worshipper of Jehovah". The prophet seems to have belonged to Judah: no reference is made to Israel, whereas he speaks of Jerusalem, the temple, the priests, and the ceremonies, as if he were intimately familiar with them (compare Joel 1:14; 2:1, 15, 32; 3:1, 2, 6, 16, 17, 20, 21).[16]

Pethuel is rendered as Βαθουηλ (Bathuel) in the Septuagint.[17]

What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten;
What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten;
And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.[18]

Hebrew text

יתר הגזם אכל הארבה ויתר הארבה אכל הילק ויתר הילק אכל החסיל׃

Transliteration

ye·ṯer ha·gā·zām ’ā·ḵal hā·’ar·beh,
wə·ye·ṯer hā·’ar·beh ’ā·ḵal ha·yā·leq,
wə·ye·ṯer ha·ye·leq ’ā·ḵal he·khā·sîl.

The "accumulation of terms" used for these locusts, also mentioned in Joel 2:25, "creates the certainty of total devastation",[3] although their exact identity is unknown. Carl-A. Keller suggests that they may represent "four varieties of insects" or four stages in the development of one insect, or they may indicate "vernacular differences".[3]

Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth

For the husband of her youth.[19]

Plange quasi virgo (Lament like a virgin), the third responsory for Holy Saturday, is loosely based on verses from the Book of Joel: the title comes from this verse.