Samuel's firstborn son who judged Israel
Joel
Named in 4 verses across 2 books, first in 1 Samuel 8:2.
יוֹאֵלJoel
The name means “he that wills or commands.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Joel Written by AI
Joel was the firstborn son of the prophet and judge Samuel, as mentioned in 1 Samuel 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 (1 Samuel 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 (1 Samuel 8:4 to 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.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Joel, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Jehovah is his God. (1.) The oldest of Samuel’s two sons appointed by him as judges in Beersheba (1 Sam. 8:2). (See VASHNI.) (2.) A descendant of Reuben (1 Chr. 5:4,8). (3.) One of David’s famous warriors (1 Chr. 11:38). (4.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1 Chr. 15:7, 11). (5.) 1 Chr. 7:3. (6.) 1 Chr. 27:20. (7.) The second of the twelve minor prophets. He was the son of Pethuel. His personal history is only known from his book.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- 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 6:28
The sons of Samuel: Joel his firstborn and Abijah his second son.
- 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;
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.