JOEL jō’ əl (יﯴאֵ֔ל, Yahu is God; LXX and NT ̓Ιωήλ, G2727). A common name widely distributed among the tribes of Israel and theologically significant considering its etymology. 1. Samuel’s first-born son (1 Sam 8:2). His father appointed him and his brother Abijah as judges in Beersheba. The sons were guilty of misconduct in office (8:3). Father of Heman, a singer in charge of the song service in the sanctuary in David’s reign (1 Chron 6:33; 15:17).

2. A Kohathite Levite, son of Azariah (6:36) and father of Elkanah. Ancestor of Samuel the prophet in a line which included three Elkanahs and two Joels (6:33-38).

3. A prince (nāsî) in the tribe of Simeon (4:35).

4. A man of the tribe of Reuben who lived on the eastern side of the Jordan (5:4, 8).

5. A chief (rōsh) of the tribe of Gad in the land of Bashan (5:12).

6. A chief man (rōsh) of the tribe of Issachar (7:3).

7. One of David’s “Mighty Men” and brother of Nathan (11:38).

8. Chief (sār) of 130 brethren, all descendants of Gershom, who helped to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem in the reign of David (15:7, 11). He may be the son or descendant of Ladan (23:8) and brother of Zetham who was one of those in charge of the treasuries in the house of God.

9. Son of Pedaiah and a chief officer (nāgîd) over the half-tribe of Manasseh during David’s reign (27:20).

10. A Kohathite Levite, son of Azariah, who helped to sanctify the Temple in the reform under Hezekiah (2 Chron 29:12).

11. Son of Nebo, a contemporary of Ezra, who had married a foreign woman (Ezra 10:43).

12. Son of Zichri and overseer (pāqîd) of the people living in the postexilic community in Jerusalem (Neh 11:9). He held an office perhaps similar to that of mayor.

Bibliography B. T. Dahlberg, “Joel,” IDB, II (1962), 926.