Joel יוֹאֵל
Samuel's firstborn son who judged Israel
Who is Joel in the Bible?
Joel was the firstborn son of the prophet and judge Samuel, mentioned in 1 Samuel 8:2. Samuel appointed Joel and his brother Abijah to serve as judges in Israel, but unlike their father, they did not follow the Lord's ways. Instead, Joel and Abijah pursued dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and perverted justice, which corrupted the leadership of Israel during that time. Their failure to uphold righteous judgment proved spiritually significant, as it prompted the elders of Israel to demand a king to rule over them, leading to the anointing of Saul as Israel's first king and marking a major turning point in the nation's history.
Biography
Joel was the firstborn son of the prophet and judge Samuel, as mentioned in 1Sa.8.2. Along with his brother Abijah, Joel was appointed by Samuel to serve as a judge in Israel. However, unlike their father, Joel and Abijah did not walk in the ways of the Lord. They turned aside after dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and perverted justice (1Sa.8.3). This corruption in leadership led the elders of Israel to demand a king to rule over them, ultimately resulting in the anointing of Saul as the first king of Israel (1Sa.8.4-5). The failure of Joel and Abijah to uphold the standards of righteous judgment set by their father had significant consequences for the nation of Israel.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Samuel 1 verse
- 1 Samuel 8:2
"The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba."
1 Chronicles 3 verses
- 1 Chronicles 6:33
"These are the men who served, together with their sons. From the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,"
- 1 Chronicles 15:17
"So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;"
- 1 Chronicles 6:28
"The sons of Samuel: Joel his firstborn and Abijah his second son."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יוֹאֵל | Joel , the name of twelve Israelites |
| Named | Hebrew | וַשְׁנִי | — |