Concern for the salvation of all people, including ones enemies, is the proper attitude for people of god. 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. Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical. 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 is identified as a prophet and servant of god during the reign of king jeroboam ii of israel 2 kings 14. Historical context critical to understanding the story of jonah the prophet and his dramatic mission to the assyrian capital of nineveh in the 6th century bce. Title following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text mt, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah meaning dove, the son of amittai 1. Certainly, god desired jonah to proclaim a message to nineveh in the hopes that they would turn from their wicked ways. The bible journey introduction to the book of jonah. The following diagram shows how many times and where in micah words of comfort and hope are used compared to words of warning and judgment. Historical context critical to understanding the story of jonah the prophet and his dramatic mission to the assyrian capital of nineveh in the 6th. The events recorded in the book must have taken place prior to 612, when nineveh was destroyed. The book of jonah preface those of you who are familiar with the story of jonah and the whale know that jonah hopped a ship heading in the opposite direction when god commanded him to. Jonahs second opportunity to preach the gospel and do as god asked can reassure students that the gospel of jesus christ offers second chances for all who.
Rather than being a series of oracles of the prophet, this book tells of an episode in the prophets life. The account contains details that appear to be exaggerations, which has raised questions for some readers about how much of the book is historical. Historical and cultural background for jonah preaching source. Let us begin by looking at the background of the book of jonah. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Jonah lived and ministered in israel during the 8th century bc, during the reign of king jeroboam ii 2. Jonah is assumed to have been a genuine sign to the people of ninevah.
The man jonah was the main character of the book, he was the son of amittai jonah 1. Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. Book of jonah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. Dive into an intriguing tale of mercy in the book of jonah. Background to the book of jonah sermon by johnny a. For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the lord, because he had told them. In the midst of the obscure prophecies before and after this book, wherein. Since jesus christ is the center of gods salvation history, all prophecy somehow relates to him. Jonah is the only book in the bible that ends with a question. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. By using this website, i acknowledge that i am 16 years of age or older, and i agree to the terms and conditions and.
Some evidence seems to support a date in the 8th cent. The book is anonymous, and there are no indicators elsewhere in scripture to identify the author. Within its four chapters is perhaps one of the better known childrens bible stories jonah and the big fish. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries.
The foundational source for the book was likely jonahs own telling of the story after his return from nineveh. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man. The supposed legendary character of some of the events e. Cultural and historical considerations are especially important for preaching the book of jonah since geography and assyrian culture play a. Literary characteristics unlike most other prophetic parts of the ot, this book is a narrative account of a single prophetic mission. Book of jonah, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, embraced in a single book, the twelve. This was step 2 of an inductive bible study seminar based on the book of jonah, that we conducted at the university of the nations in kona, hawaii on 27 feb 2015. Jonah represents jesus as the resurrection and the life. Jonah was a picture of the death and resurrection of christ. Jonah was resurrected from the whale to pursue gods path that he had laid before him, which was to rebuke nineveh into repentance. Following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah. Historical background to jonah the grace commentary.
Ancient nineveh background bible study bible history. The storys title character, jonah, son of amittai, is never called a prophet, though god calls him to deliver. Previous cities like asshur and calah were ancient capitals of assyria, but nineveh became most famous in the seventh century bc. Watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. He authored this book and told the details of his disobedience as well as gods grace and love for all people. 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. One teacher of israel says the story of jonah is more about repentance than it is about the fish. During jonahs years as a prophet, israel stood tall. Unlike many of the minor prophets, the book of jonah is mostly written in historicalstory form. The people of ninevah are assumed to have repented, and to be among those who will judge jesus generation in the future. This book of jonah, though it be placed here in the midst of the prophetical books of scripture, is yet rather a history than a prophecy. Although the book of jonah is not about world missions, the theme of gods mission to the world is definitely present in the book. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. The most difficult and troubling passages often open their meaning and significance in the most beautiful way when the.
Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, why hast thou done this. Book of jonah, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, embraced in a single book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Macdonald, only chapter 2, jonahs very personal psalm from the belly of the great fish, is in the first person. Jonah intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. Concerning the assumptions of destructive criticism s. Some explain that jonah is evidence that no one can escape the presence of god, even while trying to run from the almighty. When studying scripture, it is critical to gain understanding of the historical background and cultural setting of the book or passage being studied. Jonah or jonas, in the hebrew bible tanakhold testament, is a prophet of the northern kingdom of israel in about the 8th century bce. Jonah missed a golden opportunity to obey god, but by the grace of god, god allowed jonah to rebound. That same god is our god, and he still allows us to rebound, to have a second chance, to make a uturn, to do a doover.
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. Selected bibliography of the book of jonah related media. Jonah 1 background information with maps and images. It is one of trei asar the twelve prophets in the tanakh. God does not desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance 1 tim 2.
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. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the jewish tanakh. 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. The story has a long interpretive history and has become well known through popular childrens stories. Book of jonah, destruction and captivity by the assyrians. We read nowhere in the book that jonah confessed his sin and received a new heart.
Jonah was a prophet of the lord and he was called to deliver a message of repentance to the city of nineveh which was the capital of the assyrian empire. This did not mean, however, that jonah remained the same. Book of jonah the god of the second chance sermon by. The word of the lord came to jonah and jonah refused. Jonah author and title the title of the book is the name of the main character, jonah. It is an important book to both religious traditions christianity and jewish because of its message of doom upon israels longtime enemy. Although the author of jonah is never identified in the book itself, jonah himself has traditionally been identified as the author. It is one of trei asar the twelve prophets in the tanakh, and in christian tradition as oi dodeka prophetai or ton dodekapropheton, greek for the twelve prophets. The historicity and assyrian background of the book of jonah. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. It is claimed that jonah was picked up after the storm and shipwreck by a boat that had a fish for a figurehead which gave support for the record in the book of jonah. There are those who relate the book of jonah to the phoenician myth of hercules and the sea monster.
A paper presented in 381 bible researchold testament. Other than the mention of nineveh and of jonah, the contents offer little help in relating the book to its background. The book of jonah is an amazing story about gods willingness to respond favorable to any and all who are willing to repent of their sins and turn to him. Wishard according to the word of the lord god of israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant jonah, the son of amittai the prophet, which was of gathhepher. The distinctive nature of the book of jonah is revealed in several ways. Ancient nineveh ancient manners and customs, daily life, cultures, bible lands. The people of ninevah are included among another historical figure the queen of the south. He was the son of amittai, of the tribe of zebulun joshua 19. We are not really told whether jonah fully understood gods love and compassion, but we might think that he did.