The Book of Joel is part of the Hebrew Bible. Joel is part of a group of twelve prophetic books known as the Minor Prophets or simply as The Twelve; the distinction 'minor' indicates the short length of the text in relation to the larger prophetic texts known as the "Major Prophets".

After a superscription ascribing the prophecy to Joel (son of Pethuel), the book may be broken down into the following sections:

As there are no explicit references in the book to datable persons or events, scholars have assigned a wide range of dates to the book. The main positions are:

Evidence produced for these positions are allusions in the book to the wider world, similarities with other prophets, and linguistic details. Other commentators, such as John Calvin, attach no great importance to the precise dating.

The preservation of the book of Joel indicates that it was accorded special status by its contemporaries as “the word of the Lord” (1:1). Its history as part of the Jewish and Christian canons followed that of the entire scroll of the Minor Prophets.

David Hocking, a Christian Bible teacher, was born in Long Beach, California in 1941, and raised in Southern California. David Hocking is an Evangelical Bible teacher in the United States.

David Hocking received B.A. in Bible (Minor-Greek) from Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC); a M.Div. from Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, IN. and D.Min. from Grace Graduate School, and Th.D. from California Graduate School of Theology.

During the 1970s, Hocking was the Senior Pastor of the Grace Brethren Church, which is located in Long Beach, CA. From 1982 to 1992 he was the Senior pastor of Calvary Church of Santa Ana California 1992. He gained a following as the host of the Biola Hour radio show. Hocking was noted for his dynamic in depth expository Bible teaching.

He currently has a broadcast called Hope for Today which airs all over the world.

David Hocking was staying at the East Jerusalem Hyatt hotel, on October 17, 2001, across from the hotel room where Rehavam Zeevi, Israeli Minister of Tourism, was staying, when Zeevi was assassinated by PFLP terrorists. Hocking was quoted in the BBC news as having heard a thump, and screams from Zeevi's wife. Hocking then rushed to assist Mr. Zeevi, however, he was already dead.