Commentary of Book of Joel

commentary of book of Joel

by Pasi K. Pohjala August 2011.

The current study studies in detail the background of Book of Joel and its ancient translations and interpretations in ancient agricultural society and their practises of agriculture. Especially important for Book of Joel are its descriptions of ancient methods of irrigating the soil. We know that agriculture of Palestine is usually conducted dependent on the seasonal rains that usually are quite sufficient for irrigating there many fertile areas. However, also in those areas could artificial irrigation be necessary in situation of absence of seasonal rain or in the situation when the seasonal rains were less than usual and thus not sufficient for growth. We remember that one very important ancient tradition of quoting and interpreting statements in book of Joel is found in Mishnaic tractate Taanith, and in Talmudim. These ancient Mishnaic traditions and their interpretations quote from Book of Joel and legislate concerning situations when seasonal rainfall is less than normal and thus a drought is taking place, and famine foreseeably is threatening the community. Mishnah in detail records legislation concerning measures taken in such dangerous situations; and the current study in detail notices that Mishnaic legislating concerning fasts, specially examining that modern Readers rather might find that thus community leaders Rabbis rather ordered community service to members of community in working for irrigating the fields, in carrying water containers from water sources towards the fields and in the fields practising effective methods of irrigating. Apparently ancient Rabbis clearly understood that irrigating the fields surely could be helpful in situation of drought; and this is found specially motivated in researching the usual meanings of TYN words that usually indeed notice work of carrying loads. The study of Book of Joel also further specifically notices that word HGR very notoriously occurs in this Book in Hebrew Bible. Thus attentive Readers consider famous Scriptural traditions of HAGAR; especially Gen 16 notices how divine angel found Hagar in wilderness beside a water source. Accordingly, one very important Scriptural Hagar tradition is that connecting Hagar with water source in wilderness. This is in the current study in detail noticed especially connected with ancient discussions of practises of artificial irrigation- this method could increase amount of crop in situation of only little rainfall and especially the artificial irrigation could bring to agriculture many fertile areas that were desert because of altogether too little rainfall. We remember that the Egyptian and Mesopotamian ancient cultures were very effectively organising artificial irrigation, with the system of channels and water pumping technology making possible ancient large scale irrigation and thus materially sustaining those ancient important cultures. In Egypt, the yearly flooding or river Nile was of primary importance, but artificial irrigation was there also widely used for increasing productivity. We especially notice that Book of Joel mentions HGR and thus reference to HAGAR, remembering that according to Genesis, Hagar was of Egyptian origin. Thus is found especially noteworthy that often Rabbis talked of PETRA in terms of HAGAR. We are thus especially interested of ancient agriculture that quite much is dependent on effective use of artificial irrigation. In the ancient Nabatean areas, we notice that many ancient Nabatean cities and their surroundings of agricultural areas were located in places where rainfall was considerably less and perhaps only occasional and thus effective methods of artificial irrigation were very important for successful agriculture. We remember that many ancient Nabatean cities were located in or beside Sinai, where effective irrigating certainly was necessary also in ancient times. Also is of interest in ancient Nabatean areas the quite large area of AL JAFR depression east of Petra where occasional rainfalls constitute large lakes, or inundates areas, and where only effective organising of irrigating could sustain successful large scale agriculture. Even if in Arabic the JAFR refers to methods of magic and divination, it is notorious that Book of JOEL so emphatically describes situations of agriculture and agricultural life and notices practises of BLOWING THE SHOFAR. The area of depression of AL JAFR being quite large area in ancient Nabatean heartlands with some important rainfalls, we thus study if the book of JOEL specifically originates in ancient Nabatean culture of agriculture especially in areas that currently are known the AL JAFR area east of Petra. We remember that archaeological excavations in the PETRA have there found very developed systems of cisterns and water channels; apparently ancient Nabateans surely tried to utilise such ancient advancements of technology also in their areas where agriculture could be made possible with some technological devices, such as systems of cisterns, caves and water channels. Thus is especially seriously studied that the Book of JOEL might be considered quite reliable historical documentation of ancient NABATEAN AGRICULTURE, ESPECIALLY THEIR IRRIGATING PRACTISES, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS OF ANCIENT AL JAFR EAST OF PETRA.

We notice that name JOEL in Hebrew Bible is written in consonantal script JWAL that includes the Scriptural quite usual AL that refers to deities or to the God. We notice how the book of Joel is concerned with situations and occurrences of agriculture, and thus we notice that Arabic JL (jalla) notices to be great or lofty, and to cover, esp. the ground as snow, plants etc., this apparently being important for describing how rain covers earth, how rain covers plants. But Arabic JHL (jahila) notices one ignorant, or occurrences and conditions of pre-Islamic times, this emphasising connection to knowledge and expertise. And very notorious tradition is that Book of Joel characterising in beginning the Joel in words JOEL BEN PETUEL (JWAL BJN PTWAL) in Arabic traditions notices the PDL (fadl) that denotes surplus and overflow and superfluity, even in current language the Arabic Fadl often written in honorary titles of outstanding Islamic scholars; and in Rabbinic tradition PTJL refers especially to Sanhedrin that are distinguished by special clothing (J 1251)- and also special type of tightly sealed bottles. We notice that Book of Joel in currently usually accepted comprehension is firmly connected to events of ancient agriculture, thus also in quoting Joel in Mishnaic tradition of Taanith (and in some quotations in New Testament Gospels), so that noticing these ancient and current Arabic traditions of such words surely is also very helpful, especially in their emphasising knowledge, expertise, covering ground with water, and productivity. We remember that many heartlands of Nabatean culture were somewhat later important Arabic speaking areas.

JOEL 1:8

ALJ KBTWLH HGRT SQ YL BYL NYWRJH (Hebrew Bible)

For comprehending Book of Joel this is one centrally important statements. Here the Hebrew Bible writes of HGR. Importantly, Readers now find in this statement also written of TL that refers usually to TIL dew and covering, and to many practises of divination. Also is here written of the SQY that also usually refers to watering practises and giving drink. Furthermore, Readers remember that NHR usually refers to rivers and artificially dug channels and smaller water brooks. Thus Readers attentively consider the fundamentally important tradition in Genesis that divine angel found HAGAR in wilderness beside a water source. Apparently this tradition of Joel 1:8 thus in Hebrew Bible emphatically writes words of waters and watering systems and ancient watering technology. This is notably important statement for its terminology. Readers here find reference to TWLH and SQY; and thus especially are noticed the quite usual Hebrew word ANTILYAH denoting water wheel, and the Arabic SAQIYA also denoting water wheel. In the ancient agriculture, the water wheel was very important device used for lifting water in places where gravitation did not cause the stream of water downwards. In Palestine still in the early 20th century the water wheel was quite widely in use in irrigation systems. Importantly, here are such words written together with HGR or name HAGAR, this notoriously much emphasising such writing of finding water in dry land and desert, or bringing water to dry land and desert. Especially, we remember that the Nabatean culture was very commercially and technologically very advanced, also in such times that are probable to the writing of Book of Joel, so that this statement in Hebrew Bible motivated is notoriously important statement concerning Nabatean ancient agricultural practise of use of water wheel for bringing irrigation. We find also here interesting traditions in the Targumic translation that here begins noticing KNSTA DJSRAL YBJDJ ALJA that notices group or congregation of Israel that work with ALJA, or WHEEL or circle (the AWJLA specifically notices circle and to circle, very central for water wheel and operating a water wheel, see J 25). Here Targum emphasises writing of YL, thus making clear to Readers that YLH rising and lifting is specially to be considered (such as also occurring in water wheel lifting water), in writing YL BYL YWLJMWTHA that even more than the Hebrew text emphasises the YWL. Importantly, Targumic translation here continues much following Hebrew wording in writing KBTWLA DASJRA; thus Targumic translation hides reference to Hagar (understandably remembering usual negative attitude towards Hagar that is not necessarily the same as Scriptural attitude). Here the ASJRA could refer to a barren young woman, but noticing the Targumic TIL rather finds reference in ASHER traditions of Old Testament. Indeed, Asher is in important tradition of Deut 33:24-26 connected with God who governs clouds and whose bread is superfluous. Thus is very attentive reading of the ALJ KBTWLH necessary. We remember the ANTILYAH water wheel; but the ALJ KB TWLH apparently makes reference to deity- thus we recognise in Hebrew Bible and still in Targumic translation notorious reference to famous Egyptian male deity GEB or KEB, god of earth and vegetation. We remember that in Hagar traditions of Genesis notices of GBR are centrally important, and Rabbinic interpretation in TAANITH discusses prayer of GEBURAT GESEMIM, and quotes from Book of Joel. Thus we recognise that describing agricultural life and practises the Joel 1:8 notices

“God KEB of irrigation sprinkle TWL, irrigation of sack containers pouring (SQ, SQY, in water wheel), God master of irrigation brooks”

Furthermore, in religious cult we remember that TWL sprinkling was usual and important part of religious cult of lecanomancy where also miraculous growth and extending could be observed in magnified pictures and visions seen in glass or crystal bowls. Water sprinkling was thus in agricultural life and in religious cult connected to practises where miraculous growth could be observed and produced. And in operation of water wheel the containers poured to upper channels or containers, and thus heaped amount of there found water.

“God, the globule vessel (KB) magnifies (TLL) such circular formed (HG) lamp-vessels (NR) make heaping (SQ) for increasing of magnifyings (YL, BYL) are such divine revelations (YR)” (Modernised and Improved Translation of Joel 1:8, by Pasi K. Pohjala in Verre et Bible 2 (2008))

JOEL 1:9-10a

HKRT MNHH WNSK MBJT H’ ABLW HKHNJM MSRTJ JHWH SDD SDH ABLH ADMH KJ SDD (Hebrew Bible)

Attentive Readers here notice the emphasised words of ABL and SDD in Hebrew Bible. Apparently this notices practises and doings specifically of priests, or practises taught by priests. We thus find the ABL word here written in ABLW HKHNJM and ABLH ADMH that apparently notices agricultural practises of priests, or practises developed and taught by them. Even if such ABL often is translated to denote mourning by priests and by fields, it is now important to notice that currently Arabic preserves meaning ABL denoting to grow green, also Syriac so noticing grass (see BDB 5f discussing various meanings of ABL in Hebrew and similar Semitic words). Recognising such meanings now easily emphasises to Readers that this text rather describes successful agricultural practises of priests, their ability to make fields grow green. Thus we now further consider this context so apparently discussing methods and technology of irrigation and thus productive successful agriculture. Irrigation means pouring water on earth, or sprinkling water to earth- and thus we recognise in this text emphasised SDD word as unmistakable reference to Egyptian deity SATET, consort of the very important deity KHNUM, because usually the SATET deity is depicted as POURING WATER ON EARTH, thus being one reference to practises of Egyptian irrigating agriculture. Apparently this Hebrew text thus writing SDD SDH ABLH ADMH notices practise of pouring water on field like Egyptian SATET deity and thus making the field ADMH to grow green (importantly, often the Egyptian deity KEB is indeed depicted in green colour). Hebrew text writing ABLW HKHNJM MSRTJ H’ thus emphasises that the Priests, servants of God, thus are doing their work for making green growing. Stated in other words, the priests, servants of H’ were achieving green growth in fields in following Egyptian agricultural practises of pouring water on ground (irrigation), the method of deity SATET, consort of deity KHNUM. Targumic translation notices here WATABLW KHNJA DMSMSJN BBJT MQDSA DJWJ ATBZJZW HQLJA HRWBT ARYA. Targum thus continues writing of ABL doings of the priests, this emphasising the ABL being here important term for the doing of the priests. But rendering the Hebrew ABLH ADMH here with HRWBT ARYA more emphasises the multiple production of growths in land. Importantly, Hebrew notice of SDD SDH is thus in Targum rendered ATBZJZW HQLJA where the words BZBZ notice distributing and scattering, such as sprinkling water on fields (HQLJA), the BZZ noticing container vessel (such as Zoharic mysterious BOZINA DQARDINUTA vessel). (Commenting the Joel 2:1 it is here further discussed that Book of Joel so emphasises blowing in SHOFAR, a ram-horn; this is notoriously important in this context remembering that KHNUM was the ram-headed Egyptian deity, properly depicted with ram horns).

“Priests, servants of H’, were achieving green growth in SATET doing of fields- truly, land grew green because of SATET doing (practising of irrigation)”

Religiously here is emphasised wondering of those priestly practises for producing muchness, their producing muchness in miraculous manner. So are their doings notorious miracles of plains (and meadows, the ABL in Hebrew Bible in many place names denoting different meadows BDB 6); and the SDD also referred to Davidic culture. The sprinkling of water on fields was central in this agricultural practise of irrigation, there achieving miraculous green appearance on fields- and in lecanomancy priests sprinkling water was conceived to achieve notorious flat visions floating on surface, thus the ritual of sprinkling of water being practise with miraculous effects

“the glass lamps (NR) make known (HNK) the qualities (MN) of living beings; and such wonder (NS) the how-much (KMH) from the House of God, such flat-visions (ABL): the priests make such divine lamp-vessel prophesies (MS)- that of Davidic style (DD) that mystery (SD) of plain visions (ABL) in the place of visions (demut)” (Translation of Pasi K. Pohjala in Verre et Bible 2 (2008)).

Apparently Readers in the year 2011 regard effects of irrigation as self-evident and are more interested in novel technologies of genetically improving (or degrading) crops for alimentation and modern use of fertilisers and pesticides in improving agricultural productivity. But for ancient people the recognition that pouring or sprinkling WATER on the fields could be so important for growth of plants was a truly remarkable invention, it was the invention of irrigation. People could of course follow the events of nature and the occurring rains and sunshine- but only recognition that water available to humans (in rivers, lakes and brooks) also could contribute to the growth of plants was truly revolutionary. We know, of course, of the chemical substance water as H2O and cycles of water in nature and much of biology of plants, but people in ancient times made truly remarkable innovation in finding that the substance “water” available to THEM in lakes, rivers and brooks contributed to growth of plants in fields. Thus they could carry or pump water from those sources to their fields for promoting growth of plants, they made invention of IRRIGATION, and much discussed irrigation also in religious terms.

JOEL 1:13-14

ADM HGRW WSPDW HKHNJM HJLJLW MSRTJ MZBH BAW LJNW BSQJM MSRTJ ALHJ KJ NMNY MBJT ALHJKM MNHH WNSK QDSW ZWM QRAW YZRH ASPW ZQNJM KL JSBJ HARZ BJT H’ ALHJKM WZYQW AL H’ (Hebrew Bible)

This statement further describes practises of irrigating and organisation of people as a group to practise effective irrigating. The HGR also here notices the doings of how in dry land (and in wilderness) is water to be found, being important reference to the history of HAGAR in Genesis. We notice that here is written ADM HGRW thus referring especially to SDD SDH ABLH ADMH KJ SDD in Joel 1:10 that was found to emphasise practise of irrigating method following of practise of SATET deity who poured water on fields. Now we, however, further notice the SPDW here written. The SPD notices mourning, but with letter Sin written the SPD rather notices “to pierce” (see J 1613). We might now ask if “piercing” is of any importance concerning irrigation. Actually the answer is that “piercing” is a truly revolutionary invention in technologies of irrigation, from pierced leather or woven containers can be produced SPRINKLING OF WATER AS IRRIGATION that is apparently considerably more efficient method in its saving water and reproducing something similar to natural rains. We should notice that Arabic word for rain clouds is SAYYIB that somewhat resembles this SPD word; this emphasises here noticed doing of irrigation similarly to water from rain clouds, in smoothly sprinkling. This should be compared with irrigating by POURING WATER FROM BUCKET OR JAR that consumes much more water and achieves actually also worse results for exposing the roots of plants. The TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCING SPRINKLING OF WATER was TRULY important advancement in methods of irrigation. Here we read of PIERCING and SQ sack style containers. Reading here further 1:17 further specifies that these technologically advanced people achieved such irrigation of larger fields by fastening such pierced water bags on mules or asses (or between two mules or asses) and went around fields, thus producing steady SPRINKLE around larger fields, thus achieving quite equal irrigation across quite large fields. With effective use of always scarce water resource could thus be more efficiently irrigated also quite large fields. Thus we find here in 1:13-14 notice of use of bags BAW LJNW BSQJM, apparently pierced bags for producing sprinkle of water. The LJN is in Biblical language notorious and often mysterious word of doings over night, night rest; and also here written LJLH emphasises that. We now recognise that this history is written certainly in conditions of ancient Near East where day time is specially hot but evening time is merely warm; this emphasises that the doing of such irrigation was concentrated towards the evening time- then the working in large fields was more tolerable (and modern Readers know, of course, that irrigation in evening time is much more efficient because of less evaporation than during the hot noon time). Hebrew Bible continues writing of the actual organisation of that doing QDSW ZWM QRAW YZRH ASPW ZQNJM KL JSBJ HARZ BJT H’ ALHJKM WZYQW AL H’. Thus are these priests admonished to call further helpers, gather all grown up members of that community and say prayers before their irrigating practises; also the ZWM containers shall be sanctified before these irrigations; this tradition is also quite interesting for considerations of comparing in Hebrew ZWM containers and containment and ZMH growth, especially growth of plants and agricultural growth;