Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man. Jonah was one of only four writing prophets that jesus mentioned by name during his earthly ministry isaiah, daniel, and zechariah were the others. So based on the date and message of the book of jonah, the view of this commentary is that jonah is the originator of the story, but it was passed down orally for several hundred years, being modified and changed over time, until it was eventually recorded by a later author who lived in judea. Full text in english of the book of jonah my jewish learning. 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 is one of the most striking examples of a heart in need of expansion. The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name the. Jonah was the son of amittai, who came from gathhepher in zebulun called gittahhepher in joshua 19. Jan 02, 2020 jonah was the son of amittai, who came from gathhepher in zebulun called gittahhepher in joshua 19. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. Jonah started out and made his way into the city the distance of one days walk, and proclaimed. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the jewish tanakh. Identified in verse 1 as the son of amittai, jonah came from a town called.
Go at once to nineveh, that great city, and proclaim judgment upon it. Jonahs displeasure at gods merciful decision, and the rebuke tendered to the impatient prophet. In this final study of the book of jonah, you will learn what the book of jonah is all about. The book is replete with irony, wherein much of its humor lies. Jonahs story is told in the short just 48 verses but powerful book of jonah. 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, book of webbible encyclopedia christiananswers.
Jonah and the whale is a favorite story among children. This summary of the book of jonah provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of jonah. He went down to joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. Please read our guideline on how to lead a bible study before starting. The book of the twelve prophets was originally on one parchment roll. Now he obeys and goes to nineveh, the capital of israels ancient enemy. But jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship.
Over the course of 8 versebyverse sessions, pastor and author eric mason expands our vision to see that jonahs story is our own. Home bible studies the book of jonah questions for discussion jonah. Go to the great city of nineveh and preach against it, because its. Jonah 1 niv bible the word of the lord came to jonah son. Unfortunately, many christians thoughtlessly cast aspersions upon this important book in the canon of scripture without realizing that they are playing into the hands of the critics and innocently becoming the dupes of the skeptics. The main theme of the book of jonah is gods sovereignty over all people and his divine plan to extend his gift of mercy and salvation beyond israel to include the gentile nations. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the. And, as any schoolboy knows, a whale is a mammal, not a fish. No writer in the bible tells such a bad story about himself. He examines jonahs inner process, telling us what jonah must have.
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 book of jonah was likely written between 793 and 758 b. Before you attempt to answer the questions below you should read these chapters in the bible and answer the questions at the end of each chapter found at the website answer the questions below and then click ok to send your answers. Jeroboam increased israels borders in accordance with jonahs prophecy 2 ki. He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. Go to the great city of nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. Jonah was an unwilling prophet given an assignment which he found displeasing. Free interactive bible quizzes with answers and high score tables. 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. Jonah 14 king james version kjv 1 now the word of the lord came unto jonah the son of amittai, saying, 2 arise, go to nineveh, that great city, and cry against it. 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 book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible.
He was the earliest of the prophets and close behind elisha in his place in the old testament. The history of jonah may well be regarded as a part of that great onward movement which was before the law and under the law. Darton, longman and todd, the publisher for this new paperback volume, were also the original publisher of the original 1966 jerusalem bible. He chose to flee away from god rather than obey him. The book of jonah recounts real events in the life and ministry of the prophet himself. Jonahs response, however, was to do the exact opposite of what he was told.
He knew when the lord told him to preach against nineveh it meant god wanted to give that ungodly city a second chance, and jonahs sense of justice demanded punishment for nineveh. Tolkiens contribution was the translation of jonah, one of the most famous bible stories. He quotes his father in his commentary to the book of jonah. Literary characteristics unlike most other prophetic parts of the ot, this book is a narrative account of a single prophetic mission. Nineveh was an enormously large city a three days walk across. A fun way to see how much you know about the bible whilst complementing your bible study. He went down to joppa, found a ship going to tarshish, paid the fare, and went down in it to go with them to tarshish. Apr 12, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The bible tells us that god prepared a great fish which swallowed jonah. Jonah was a prophet in the land of israel about 800750 bc. 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.
Book of jonah read, study bible verses online bible study tools. Jonah or jonas, in the hebrew bible tanakhold testament, is a prophet of the northern kingdom of israel in about the 8th century bce. Introduction jonah is one of the most ridiculed books by liberal scholars. Asleep at the wheel amazing jonah tim mackie the bible. Jonah flees from the lord the word of the lord came to jonah son of amittai. The book of jonah is a subversive story about a rebellious prophet who. It is an important book to both religious traditions christianity and jewish.
Nov 19, 2012 so based on the date and message of the book of jonah, the view of this commentary is that jonah is the originator of the story, but it was passed down orally for several hundred years, being modified and changed over time, until it was eventually recorded by a later author who lived in judea during the postexilic time period, and was using the. It may be read as an allegory, one of sin and repentance, with gods loving mercy and forgiveness. After all, everybody has heard of jonah and the whale. Full text in english of the book of jonah my jewish. The book is named after its principal character, whose name means dove. The story of a fish swallowing a man and the man living sounds impossible, and since most liberal scholars deny the possibility of the supernatural, they reject the book of jonah as anything but a fairy tale. In the new testament, no other old testament prophet is named by jesus more than the prophet jonah. As i finish my quick read of littleknown obadiah, i turn the page to find myself on very familiar ground. David kimchi was an important scholar of hebrew grammar and wrote michlol, an early comprehensive study of it. Book of jonah jonah chapter 1 jonah chapter 2 jonah chapter 3 jonah chapter 4. Questions for discussion jonah the living word library. They have now studied the original manuscript of tolkiens translation of the book of jonah and will now re. Jonah is the fifth of the twelve prophets in the book of the twelve in hebrew scripture. Caught in a storm, he orders the ships crew to cast him overboard.
T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Jonah went at once to nineveh in accordance with the lords command. A they drew lots b jonah confessed c they guessed d they saw a vision 7 what was the crews reaction when they heard that jonah was fleeing from the living god. Watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary. Far more than a thrilling sunday school adventure, it offers a profound glimpse into the conflict that occurs when god calls resistant believers to his mission. The book of jonah is unique among the books of the prophets. Gods determination to get his message to the nations. Nineveh was spared after jonahs mission for more than a century.
There was a jonah, son of amittai, who lived during the eighth century b. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point 1. One could describe kimchis commentary as psychological. Moreover, some critics argue that the book of jonah depicts the prophet as being swallowed by a great fish jon. And jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Obedience calms the storm devotionals newspring church. 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 name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonahs character is anything but dovelike. Jonah 1, new international version niv the bible app. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man.
It tells of a hebrew prophet named jonah son of amittai who is sent by god to. Watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Have you ever found yourself wanting to turn and run away rather. During this time, an important event happened to israel.
The book of jonah is a subversive story about a rebellious prophet who despises his god for loving his enemies. Jonah the book of jonah the king james version old. Leading the book of jonah bible study featuring eric mason. While the author could have been someone who obtained the information about the. 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. Jonah 1 niv jonah flees from the lord the word of bible.
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