Jonah was likely written to contribute to this theological debate. This was strange, because usually the preacher is pleased when the congregation repents, but jonah wasnt. Following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah. Most striking of all is the application of psalm 16. They were the great tyrants of the middle east, the persecutors of israel, an ungodly mob fully deserving of his gods wrath. One tradition said he was from zebulon, another from the israelite tribe of asher. Foolishly, he attempts to flee the presence of the lord by taking a ship to foreign shores. Pastor tullian focuses on the gospel aspect of the jonah story. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. A storm arose and the men threw jonah into the sea. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man.
We find that god has ways of getting him to answer his call. He flee on a boat toward tarshish, to get away from god. Unlike the others, however, jonah rejects gods call. When god calls abraham to offer his son isaac as a sacrifice, abraham gets up early in the morning and goes, but when god calls jonah, jonah runs away. The people on the boat throw jonah into the sea to stop it. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Jonah 4 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. The main objection to the mythological interpretation, as it seems to the present writers, is that from the point of view of the narrative itself it has no raison detre. The simple, expansive story of jonah thin difference. Determining that jonahs genre is not history frees us to examine the question of the storys intent and purpose, which is the main objective of interpretation and the focus of our formcritical analysis of jonah.
Jonah, the book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. A few highlights of the book that i found particularly interesting were on this perspective, meaning the story of jonah s life and the decisions made. He doesnt do what god wants him to do, sailing away in a different direction. He is traditionally viewed as highly important in islam as a prophet who was faithful to allah and delivered his messages.
Selected bibliography of the book of jonah related media. Almost everyone has heard the story of the huge sea creature that swallowed jonah, and about jonahs pitiful prayer for deliverance while inside its stomach ch. Apocalypse explained ae 538 11 particulars in the book of jonah are historical, and yet prophetical, involving and representing such arcana, as do all the other historicals of the word. Their wickedness, as that of nineveh, is a bold and open affront to god. Modern scholars are divided as to whether jonah composed the prayer during his time in the fish or recorded it later the text does not make it clear, and its not important to make a distinction.
Jesus actually identified himself with the prophets threeday sojourn in the belly of the great fish, noting it as a foreshadowing of his own death. How sad the contrast between gods feeling on the repentance of nineveh towards him, and jonahs feeling on the repentance of god towards nineveh. This little roll of four short chapters has given rise to almost as much discussion and difference of opinion as the first four chapters of genesis. The book of jonah stands unique in the prophetical canon, in that it does not contain any predictions, but simply relates the story of its hero, beginning for that reason with waye. The most difficult and troubling passages often open their meaning and significance in the most beautiful way when the. Jonah only respected god and only obeyed god when he could do it in his comfort zone. Focus on jonah written by leading scholars, the focus on essays are designed to stimulate thought and to explore in depth topics of interest in the field of biblical studies.
There are allusions, in his prayer, to the great messianic psalms 22, 69 and 16. He quotes short fragments from various psalms, and adapts them to meet his own case. I am drawn to the book of jonah not only because i. In view of that curiosity, says sasson, i have had to devote much space to. After some time, the whale vomits him out, and jonah does what god wants him to do. The mythological interpretation necessarily postulates that the great fish that swallowed jonah is tehom, the dragon of the subterranean deep. Jonah being the prime example of someone who did not love the people but god used him anyway. Jonah 4 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary provides notes on all 66 books of the bible, and contain more than 7,000 pages of material. A long time ago in a galilee far, far away, the twelve tribes of israel were adjusting to the new normal after a political crisis. The audience of the book of jonah was the people of israel and all future readers of the bible and, typically, prophets issued warnings or gave instructions to the people of israel. Jonah 4 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Here are 10 valuable lessons gleaned from jonahs encounter with the great fish and the people of nineveh. After jonahs complaint, god explains in verses 1011 why it is silly for jonah to care so much about a plant and so little about a city full of peopleand thats the end. Firstly, jonah had every good reason he thought to wish gods judgment on the ninevites.
The northern tribes were not all exiled at once but in stages. Jonah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of jonah for bible study or sunday school lessons. 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. Yunus is the title of the tenth chapter of the quran. In some cases, stories are used to share a moral concept, or used as a tool to teach a lesson. Jonah cared more about that plant that gave him some shade than he did about the souls of people. Set in the reign of jeroboam ii 786746 bc, it was probably written in the postexilic period, some time between the late 5th to early 4th century bc. The other literal interpretation is that jonah indeed underwent what the story, read as straight history, says he did but survived only because of a positive miracle, and several different sorts of miracles have been suggested, such as suspended animation on jonahs part or a fish with a remarkably large air supply and decidedly mild. Jonah 2 is packed almost completely with a prayer connected to jonahs experiences while waiting in the belly of the great fish that had swallowed him. According to this interpretation, jonah is a symbol of israel in its refusal to carry out gods mission to the nations. The book of jonah is more than just a delightful story for children. A new translation with introduction, commentary, and interpretation, by jack m. Jonah 4 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible.
Book of jonah, destruction and captivity by the assyrians. And jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. However, god uses wind, a gourd and a worm to teach him that he is merciful. The major question of jonah 4 is connected to the books abrupt ending. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. However, to my knowledge this is the first attempt to present an overall literary analysis of the book as a whole.
When studying scripture, it is critical to gain understanding of the historical background and cultural setting of the book or passage being studied. Commentary on the book of jonah jonah 1 1the word of the lord came to jonah the son of amittai saying, 2arise, go to nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me. Jonah is the only one of the twelve minor prophets to be mentioned by name in the quran. The book of jonah is not prophecy, as the books we have been studying.
Literary analysis of jonah chiasmus in jonah has been noted by numerous biblical scholars. You get him out of his comfort zone and he refused to obey and respect the lord. It would be presumptuous to think that one could, in a brief article, speak the final word on the questions in debate. Determining that jonah s genre is not history frees us to examine the question of the storys intent and purpose, which is the main objective of interpretation and the focus of our formcritical analysis of jonah. Seusss the grinch is a staple villain in childrens literature. Ac 1188 2 but then we find a startling, thoughtprovoking passage in. Through jonah s decisions, actions, and thoughts, we gain the lessons of grace and purpose. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. Jonah needed to expand his heart toward otherswe do too. Now the lord had prepared a great fish to swallow jonah. It tells of a hebrew prophet named jonah son of amittai who is sent by god to prophesy the destruction of nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission. He really did not want to answer gods call to minister in nineveh. This is an account of jonahs call to minister at nineveh, and his reaction to that call. I used to think that god never gave reasons for what he does but now i am convinced that god always makes commentary to jonah rev.
Jonah was one of only four writing prophets that jesus mentioned by name during his earthly ministry isaiah, daniel, and zechariah were the others. They had split into two countries, each with its own king, religious culture, international intrigue and national brand of hummus. As a result, we become unaware of the storys historical validity. Commentary on the book of jonah relevant bible teaching.
But it displeased jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. The primary argument against this view is that jonah is clearly presented as a historical and not a fictional figure see the specific historical and geographical details in 1. We often read stories in the bible without taking the historical context into consideration. There is, writes professor sasson in his preface, an enormous curiosity about this book. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth.
The book ends with jonah waiting in vain for nineveh to be destroyed. The book of jonah is a largerthanlife story of every individual who seeks closeness with god. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. New essays on specific themes, with links to related content within the site for further reading, are published throughout the year. The following structure is based on a careful analysis of the content of jonah in the hebrew text.