Transcription
Yoel Introduction
Yoel is the 2nd of the Trey Asar prophets.
When did Yoel Ben Pessuel live is of great debate?
The Bamidbar Rabba 10:5 as brought in Rashi in the beginning of Yoel: Yoel was actually one of the sons of Shmuel Hanavi and is called son of Pesuel, Becaue he was Pitta L’el Betefilaso that his prayer was successful in front of Hashem. Note: In Sefer Shmuel Perek 8 when discussing Shmuel Hanavis two children, Yoel and Aviya, relates that both Yoel and Aviya committed sins. The Gemerah in Shabbos explains that Yoel and Aviyah didn’t travel though out Yisrael to judge the nation in the way their father Shmuel did and therefore its considered as if they sinned.
This can be an amazing lesson, that Yoel the son Shmuel Hanavi, whom Passuk says he sinned did Teshuva later is his life and became the great Yoel Hanavi to be remembered for all generation! So too we can do Teshuva no matter what we may have done in our lives.
Seder Hadoros brings: Yoel lived during the times of Yehoram Ben Achav which was aprox 300 years prior to the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash.
The Living Nach explains: that if indeed Yoel’s prophecy about locust swarming the land had come true and corresponds to what is says in Melachim II 8:1 that Elisha Hanavi prophesied there would be a famine in Eretz Yisrael for 7 years. for 4 consecutive years different species of locusts ravaged the land, and then there was drought for the next 3 years. The prophecies contained in Yoel are the details of the famine at that time.
Taanis 5A explains: how during the plague of locust the food supply of Yisrael was diminished and famine had struck the land until the residents of Yisrael were reduced to eating their own children in the 6th year and actually eating their own flesh in the 7th year of the famine.
Alternatively, the Seder Olam brings Yoel lived during the times of the evil king Mensahe son of Chizkiya, which would be 50 years prior to the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash. And Yoel would have been a student of Micha Hanavi. This would have made Yoel contemporaries with the great prophets Nachum and Chabakuk. Radak explains, the reason why the Evil King Menashe is not mentioned here is because he was so bad the navi didn’t want to even mention him when unnecessary.
The Name Yoel:
וַיּ֥וֹאֶל מֹשֶׁ֖ה לָשֶׁ֣בֶת אֶת־הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיִּתֵּ֛ן אֶת־צִפֹּרָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ לְמֹשֶֽׁה׃
“Moses consented to stay with the man (Yisro) , and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah as wife.”
Targum on this passuk explains Yoel means “willing” or “desire” Meaning Moshe was Willing to stay with Yisro. Perhaps we can say the reason why the prophet was called Yoel was because is burning desire to serve Am Yisrael and serve Hashem.
Rashi on this passuk explains Yoel means “swear” meaning Moshe swore he would be loyal to Yisro. Perhaps we can say the reason Yoel swore to Hashem that he will be faithful and loyal to Him despite the horrors Yoel was to prophesy about.
Overview:
The first 3 perakim in Yoel discuss and warn the nation about the storm of locusts that are going to come and create a devastating famine throughout the land of Eretz Yisrael. Therefore, the nation needs to do Teshuva and come close to Hashem by pouring out their hearts to God and keeping Hashem’s Torah.
The 4th and last perek in Yoel about the amazing times of the final redemption when Hashem will gather His nation from all all across the earth and start to return them to Eretz Yisrael and rebuilt Yerushalyim. Than you Hashem after 2,000 years of being off our land Jews from all around the world have begun to or return to Eretz Yisrael in the beginning of the fulfillment of the great prophets including Yoel Hanavi!
A word on the greatness of Yoel Hanavi: Taanis 5A relates a story: at the end of the 7th year of the famine, when there was absolutely no food left, a little bit of rain fell in the month of Nissan which was considered the end of the rain season. Yoel had instructed Yisrael to go out and plant their last bit of grain. This obviously did not make any sense because it was the end of the rain season. The nation replied back to Yoel they don’t have enough food to do both, should they eat it and live or plant it and die? Yoel reiterated his words to plant the last morsels of grain.
A miracle happened and the nation found tons of grain buried in the cracks of their walls and holes in the ground. Than miraculously mass amounts of rain came down from heaven and the crops grew to full Hight in just 11 days!
On this Dovid Hamelech says in Tehllim 126:
הָ֘ל֤וֹךְ יֵלֵ֨ךְ ׀ וּבָכֹה֮ נֹשֵׂ֪א מֶֽשֶׁךְ־הַ֫זָּ֥רַע בֹּֽ֬א־יָב֥וֹא בְרִנָּ֑ה נֹ֝שֵׂ֗א אֲלֻמֹּתָֽיו
“The one who went out weeping, carrying his sack of seed, will return home with songs of delight, carrying his sheaves”
As Yoel deals with locusts who destroyed Eretz Yisrael. Let’s have mind the rebuilding and returning to Eretz Yisrael when Mashaich ben Dovid will reveal himself to the entire world. When the cast aside nation of Am Yisrael will return to Eretz Yisrael with singing and dancing. When the one who went out weeping, carrying his sack of seed through the pain and suffering of exile will return home with songs of delight, carrying his sheaves with the return of the entire Am Yisrael back to their Eretz Yisrael.
We will be starting Perek Aleph in the next Shiur.
Thank you for listening…