Abstract:
The first pericope division of the book of Joel is problematic. There is a
great deal of disagreement among scholars and Bible translators about
where the text should be demarcated. Consequently, this article attempts
to answer questions such as: What is the most acceptable division for the
book of Joel? What are the implications of the different divisions on the
understanding of the text? This article refers to the divisions of Joel made
in various ancient manuscripts. This is done in an attempt to establish
how the ancients interpreted the text. When that understanding is
established, it is compared to the understanding of modern scholars. It is
believed that this might lead to new insights regarding the interpretation
of, especially, the first chapter of the book of Joel.
