The book of jonah is a largerthanlife story of every individual who seeks closeness with god. Many critics however want to lower the book of jonah to an allegory, a parable or a legend because of the miracles described in it especially the appearing of the great fish devouring jonah. Although the book is written in the third person, the traditional view is that jonah is the author of the book, and there is no persuasive reason to theorize about an unknown author. The ninevites listen to his message of doom and repent. Though the book does not identify its author, tradition has ascribed it to the prophet himself, jonah son of. Full text in english of the book of jonah my jewish learning. Dive into an intriguing tale of mercy in the book of jonah. May 24, 2007 the literary and theological climax of the book of jonah is his cry for salvation. Jonah 1 kjv now the word of the lord came unto bible. The whole getting lost in the desert thing is actually a part of gods educational mission, so he creates a tree that saves jonah from dying. In his unthinkable terror, he cries to god for salvation. The whole book is about gods great love and great patience. There is a paradoxical recognition that the closer one comes to god, the more one becomes conscious of the chasm separating gods wisdom from our own.
Jonah went at once to nineveh in accordance with the lords command. The prophetic significance of this book not only lies in the short message in nineveh but also in the entire history of jonah described in his book. Go to the great city of nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up. Jesus would spend three days and three nights in the grave the heart of the earth. The book of jonah was likely written between 793 and 758 b. A social justice commentary is a refreshing look at the story and at some traditional perspectives on it through the lens of social justice. Pdf commentary on the book of jonah samuel amirtharaj. The theme of jonah is gods saving mercy toward the nations of the world. The book of jonah started out entertaining, quickly became disturbing, then got even darker, became kind of boring, and wound up to be quite moving. The lords compassion is not only for insiders like jonah and israel but also for outsiders like the ninevites. The book of jonah is followed by michah micah, which in turn is followed by nachum.
This old testament book describes at least part of the ministry of a prophet called jonah, the only prophet who attempted to run away from god. This book presents powerful archaeological and documentary evidence for the historicity and authenticity of the book of jonah, one of the most derided books of the bible. Watch more free episode in the superbook app jonah app or on the superbook kids website jonah site. The book is replete with irony, wherein much of its humor lies. Since jonah prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii 782753 b. First, we should note that this marvelous narrative has suffered. The book of jonah, king james bible, by alexander scourby is being aired with permission of, all rights reserved. Jonah vividly displays the heart of mercy god has for all people groups of the world, even those known for their godlessness. Jonah jonah came from a town later known as galilee 2 kings 14.
It is the story of a man who throws everything away because of visions he develops, and a woman who has everything taken from. The book of jonah and biblical social justice the jerusalem. He even referred to himself as one greater than jo nah verse 41an odd comparison to make if jo nah had never existed at all. The last sentence of the book of jonah impels us into outer space. A storm arose and the men threw jonah into the sea. But jonah ran away from the lord and headed for tarshish. It is within the unusual story of the prophet jonah, that many core truths of the judeochristian faith are explored. An example of this is the comparison between jonah 1. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point 1. Jonah is happy to be saved, but then god kills the tree and jonah is so pissed he is suicidal. Jonah, a reluctant prophet during the reign of jeroboam ii, is called by yahweh to proclaim a message of destruction to the great city of nineveh far to the east of jerusalem. Imagine a conversation between nahum, jonah, and the narrator of jonah s story. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonah s character is anything but dovelike. In the book, jonah is repeatedly denoted as a third person, causing few to search for a different author.
Our aim in this book is to tackle purely the spiritual side, and not the theological side. Jonah complete bible book chapters and summary new. He spoke of jonah s stay in the belly of the fish and contrasted the repentant ninevites with the unbelieving people of his own day matt 12. Go at once to nineveh, that great city, and proclaim judgment upon it. Running from god chapter 1 running to god chapter 2 running with god chapter 3 running ahead of god chapter 4 about jonah the prophet jonah son of amittai also appears in 2 kings 14. Through satire and compelling storytelling, the book of jonah reveals to readers why god is compassionate to evildoers in the past and present age today. Jonah 1 niv bible the word of the lord came to jonah son. Jonah is the most widely known of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament. Some scholars doubt the authenticity of the biblical narrative of the book of jonah. This summary of the book of jonah provides information about the title, author s, date. Seeing gods grace and mercy in the story of jonah cam hyde. By acknowledging the sign of jonah, jesus was also acknowledging the authenticity of the book of jonah.
Although the esv study bible says the author is anonymous, tradition has attributed the authorship of this book to the minor prophet who appears in the title. Summary of the book of jonah jonah s call arise, go to nineveh, that great city, and cry against it. The book of jonah kjv audio bible full by alexander. The kingdom of israel had split in half, after king. Chapters available jonah albert barnes notes on the. Mayim bialik on what yom kippur and the book of jonah mean. Jonah free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. The account contains details that appear to be exaggerations, which has raised questions for some readers about how much of the book is historical. He controlled the weather and the great fish to achieve his ends. He went down to joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. Jonah makes a brief appearance in year b on the 3 rd sunday of ordinary time. Focusing on a whole book or a substantial unit of text.
The tiny book of jonah is a great satire on the seer jonah. The story of jonah and the whale the book of jonah. Once again, instead of giving jonah what he deserves, god instead gives him an object lesson about his grace, mercy, and sovereignty. He lived for three days inside the creature, after which the fish vomited out jonah upon. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. The book also begins with just that same authentication, with which all other prophetic books begin. Go to the great city of nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. Jonah 1 niv jonah flees from the lord the word of bible. Jan 02, 2020 the second view holds that jonah remained alive for three days in the belly of the great fish. Abraham and his children were to be a channel of divine blessing to the whole world. But i with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you. It is the story of a man who throws everything away because of visions he develops, and a woman who has everything taken from her, turning her into a shell of a person. The book of prophet jonah challenges us to face a reality that justifies our quality of gods children. Commentary on the book of jonah samuel amirtharaj middle old testament 21516 historical background authorship though the author is not mentioned in the book itself, many scholars attribute it to be jonah the son of amittai.
Jonah was saved from drowning when he was swallowed by a great fish. Doc literary analysis of the book of jonah alex sasha m. And jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Parallelism in the book of jonah 1675 words internet. The book of jonah the prophet is full of wonderful spiritual contemplation. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for tarshish to flee from the lord. We wish to take from this beautiful book beneficial lessons for our life. Jonah 1 kjv now the word of the lord came unto bible gateway. Feb 16, 2021 the book of jonah, as a whole, does not really come into play in our catholic lectionary cycle. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. Though the parallel verses are not wordforword, in a sense they carry similar ideas and themes. Full text in english of the book of jonah my jewish.
The book of jonah is full of gods grace and mercy and it is a story we need. Sep 12, 2017 outline of the book of jonah one popular outline of jonah, which could be used in a sermon series, is. Sep 30, 2019 jonah, of all people, gets mad that god would show kindness to these people. Now he obeys and goes to nineveh, the capital of israels ancient enemy. The historical background which the book of jonah presents is seen to be utterly authentic, and even the creature not a whale that swallowed jonah is known from the. Jonah, whose name means dove, lived in gathhepher, located just north of nazareth, during the reign of jeroboam ii in the. The story has a long interpretive history and has become well known through popular childrens stories. Doc literary analysis of the book of jonah alex sasha. The book was written to show that prophecy has a mission in the world. Every notice of the prophet is omitted, except what bears on that mission. This introductory course is designed to provide key insights into the book of jonah by pulling together a number of key resources. It concerns a disobedient prophet who rejected his divine commission, was cast overboard in a storm and swallowed by a great fish, rescued in a marvelous manner, and returned to his starting point.
The book of jonah the story of jonah has great theological import. The book of jonah, as a whole, does not really come into play in our catholic lectionary cycle. The story begins in israel, moves to the mediterranean seaport of joppa, and concludes in nineveh, the. Unlike other prophetic books in the old testament, the book of jonah is not a record of jonahs prophecies but a narrative about the prophets experiences. Jonah flees from the lord the word of the lord came to jonah son of amittai. Read chapter 3, which actually represents the way jonah would have preachedthough not the way the book of jonah itself sees things.
Based around 780 bc, the book of jonah is written during the time of reign of jeroboam 11. Using human logic many so called scholars, have questioned the authenticity of the book of jonah, because they find it hard to believe a fish could shallow and man and the man live. The bible tells us that god prepared a great fish which swallowed jonah. Sep 10, 2012 to top off the peachy month jonah is having, he ends up in the desert and the heat almost kills him. He is the central figure of the book of jonah, in which he is called upon by god to travel to nineveh and warn its residents of impending divine wrath. Jonah obeyed god, telling the show more content the parallelism in jonah splits in two as the book itself splits into part one 12 and part two 34. Jonah had spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish. Jonah started out and made his way into the city the distance of one days walk, and proclaimed. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim in the hebrew bible. He did not even mention jonahs first failure to obey him.
Nineveh was an enormously large city a three days walk across. The story begins in israel, moves to the mediterranean seaport of joppa, and concludes. In judaism, it is the haftarah portion read during the after. Book of jonah lesson 1 welcome to the study of the book of jonah. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. Nor is the book of jonah a history of the prophet, but of that one mission to nineveh. Jonah came from a town later known as galilee 2 kings 14. Both views agree on a literal reading of the book of jonah and affirm gods supernatural ability to rescue his prophet. We wish to benefit from gods work and from peoples virtues and faults. See the discussion of the book of jonah regarding its historicity in. Jonah tells gods warning at nineveh, and the whole city repentsfrom the king to the cows. The book of jonah appears as one of twelve small books of scripture known as trei asar the twelve. The book was written to show that prophecy has a mission in the.
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