When studying scripture, it is critical to gain understanding of the historical background and cultural setting of the book or passage being studied. A new translation with introduction, commentary, and interpretation, by jack m. I am drawn to the book of jonah not only because i. 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.
Book of jonah, destruction and captivity by the assyrians. Jonah needed to expand his heart toward otherswe do too. 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 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. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. 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. 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.
In some cases, stories are used to share a moral concept, or used as a tool to teach a lesson. 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. 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. Pastor tullian focuses on the gospel aspect of the jonah story. We often read stories in the bible without taking the historical context into consideration. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. Yunus is the title of the tenth chapter of the quran. He quotes short fragments from various psalms, and adapts them to meet his own case. 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. Now the lord had prepared a great fish to swallow jonah. Jonah 4 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. According to this interpretation, jonah is a symbol of israel in its refusal to carry out gods mission to the nations.
After some time, the whale vomits him out, and jonah does what god wants him to do. Here are 10 valuable lessons gleaned from jonahs encounter with the great fish and the people of nineveh. Jonah is the only one of the twelve minor prophets to be mentioned by name in the quran. And jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. Selected bibliography of the book of jonah related media. 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. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. 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. Most striking of all is the application of psalm 16. Here are 10 valuable lessons gleaned from jonahs encounter with the great fish and the people of. Jonah was likely written to contribute to this theological debate. The major question of jonah 4 is connected to the books abrupt ending. 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 being the prime example of someone who did not love the people but god used him anyway. They had split into two countries, each with its own king, religious culture, international intrigue and national brand of hummus. 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. Their wickedness, as that of nineveh, is a bold and open affront to god. 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.
The most difficult and troubling passages often open their meaning and significance in the most beautiful way when the. The book of jonah is more than just a delightful story for children. It would be presumptuous to think that one could, in a brief article, speak the final word on the questions in debate. Foolishly, he attempts to flee the presence of the lord by taking a ship to foreign shores. However, to my knowledge this is the first attempt to present an overall literary analysis of the book as a whole. The simple, expansive story of jonah thin difference. 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. How sad the contrast between gods feeling on the repentance of nineveh towards him, and jonahs feeling on the repentance of god towards nineveh. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. Commentary on the book of jonah relevant bible teaching. In view of that curiosity, says sasson, i have had to devote much space to.
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. That guy was one of the biggest fairweather fans the lord has ever had. This is an account of jonahs call to minister at nineveh, and his reaction to that call. 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. Jonah cared more about that plant that gave him some shade than he did about the souls of people. We find that god has ways of getting him to answer his call. The book of jonah is a largerthanlife story of every individual who seeks closeness with god. A storm arose and the men threw jonah into the sea.
Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. Jonah 4 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. As a result, we become unaware of the storys historical validity. He is traditionally viewed as highly important in islam as a prophet who was faithful to allah and delivered his messages. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. Jonah, the book of definition and meaning bible dictionary.
Seusss the grinch is a staple villain in childrens literature. There are allusions, in his prayer, to the great messianic psalms 22, 69 and 16. 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 summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of jonah for bible study or sunday school lessons. Ac 1188 2 but then we find a startling, thoughtprovoking passage in. He really did not want to answer gods call to minister in nineveh. There is, writes professor sasson in his preface, an enormous curiosity about this book. 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. Through jonah s decisions, actions, and thoughts, we gain the lessons of grace and purpose.
The book ends with jonah waiting in vain for nineveh to be destroyed. 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 doesnt do what god wants him to do, sailing away in a different direction. 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. But it displeased jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 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. New essays on specific themes, with links to related content within the site for further reading, are published throughout the year. 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.
Jonah was one of only four writing prophets that jesus mentioned by name during his earthly ministry isaiah, daniel, and zechariah were the others. 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 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. You get him out of his comfort zone and he refused to obey and respect the lord. The mythological interpretation necessarily postulates that the great fish that swallowed jonah is tehom, the dragon of the subterranean deep. They were the great tyrants of the middle east, the persecutors of israel, an ungodly mob fully deserving of his gods wrath. Analysis of the book of jonah essay 2162 words bartleby. He flee on a boat toward tarshish, to get away from god. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah.
One tradition said he was from zebulon, another from the israelite tribe of asher. Firstly, jonah had every good reason he thought to wish gods judgment on the ninevites. However, god uses wind, a gourd and a worm to teach him that he is merciful. 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. Jonah only respected god and only obeyed god when he could do it in his comfort zone. The northern tribes were not all exiled at once but in stages. 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. This was strange, because usually the preacher is pleased when the congregation repents, but jonah wasnt. Unlike the others, however, jonah rejects gods call. The following structure is based on a careful analysis of the content of jonah in the hebrew text. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible.
1123 236 112 551 142 1604 1087 476 274 1599 1186 757 1507 537 522 154 344 1281 67 1308 1220 1313 1078 1 830 305 450 789 1631 137 31 653 1193 762 1026 985 506 1464 673