ProphetOld Testament

Prophet Joad

Also known as Joad the Prophet

Old Testament prophet sent to rebuke King Jeroboam for idolatry.

March 30New Calendar

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April 12Old Calendar

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Commemorated as

The Holy Prophet Joad

Life

Joad is an Old Testament prophet commemorated on March 30, identified in Orthodox tradition with the unnamed "man of God" who appears in the third Book of Kingdoms (1 Kings) chapter 13. According to that narrative he was sent by the Lord from Judea to Bethel to rebuke Jeroboam, king of Israel, for leading the people into idolatry. He is reckoned to the tenth century before Christ.

The biblical account leaves the prophet anonymous, and Orthodox synaxaria preserve different names for him; the name Joad is used in part to distinguish him from the better-known Prophet Joel, who is commemorated on October 19. Some sources connect the figure to the name given in 2 Chronicles 9:29. The synaxarion relates that he came to Bethel as Jeroboam stood at the altar he had erected for sacrifice, and there delivered his prophetic word against it.

Joad foretold that a son would be born to the house of David, to be named Josiah, and that the priests who offered sacrifice on the altar at the high places would be burned upon it. When Jeroboam stretched out his hand to seize the prophet, the king's hand withered; at Joad's intercession it was restored. The account of his death by a lion, following his disobedience of the Lord's command, is recorded in the same chapter and is the principal episode associated with him in the tradition.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 4

(Podoben: “Today You have shown forth...”) Enlightened by the Spirit, your pure heart became the dwelling place of most splendid prophecy;
for you saw things far off as if they were near.
Therefore, we honor you, blessed and glorious Prophet Joad.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 2

We celebrate the memory
of Your prophet Joad, O Lord;
through him we entreat You,
save our souls.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Contributions & Legacy

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The Prophecy at Bethel

By the account in 1 Kings 13, the prophet arrived at Bethel at the moment Jeroboam was standing at the altar he had built to offer sacrifice. He cried out against the altar, warning those gathered that a son would be born to the house of David named Josiah, and that the priests of the high places who sacrificed there would themselves be burned upon it. When the king ordered him seized and reached out his own hand, the hand withered; the king then entreated the prophet, and at his prayer the hand was restored to its former state.

The Deception and Death

Joad had been commanded by God to eat no bread and drink no water at Bethel, and not to return home by the way he had come. The synaxarion relates that an old prophet of Bethel, named Emba in the Orthodox tradition, deceived him by claiming that an angel had instructed him to bring the man of God home to eat and drink, contradicting the command Joad had received directly from the Lord. After he ate at the old man's house, Joad set out again and was met and killed by a lion. By the account the lion did not devour the body, and the old prophet recovered it, buried it, and asked that he himself be laid to rest beside it.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints