Purchase the jonah leader kit for small groups, or follow the directions. Verses 12 this book is a story about god and jonah. God directs jonah, jonah disobeys jon 1 god has compassion on jonah jonah 2 jonah preaches to nineveh, nineveh repents jonah 3 god has compassion on nineveh, but jonah does not jonah 4 but it gets more interesting if we look beyond the chapter layer. Jonah is the fifth of the twelve prophets in the book of the twelve in hebrew. Although the author of jonah is never identified in the book itself, jonah himself has traditionally been identified as the author. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the jewish tanakh. 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. Our book thus reflects the two opposing schools of thought, theparticularists and the universalists, within jewry. Jonah or jonas, in the hebrew bible tanakhold testament, is a prophet of the northern kingdom of israel in about the 8th century bce.
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 go preach to the ninevites. 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. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, lord, have done as you pleased. Unfortunate or not, the book of jonah, which may best be understood as a parable, is included in the section known as neviim in the hebrew bible tanach and the prophetic books, the twelve, in english versions of the bible. Watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary design. A more recent view is that the book was written long after jonahs time by some anonymous author and that it is a work of fiction with a moral lesson. Use this guide to uncover the wonderful message of jonah, and to come face to face with the greatest evangelist of allthe lord our god himself. The book of jonah is a subversive story about a rebellious prophet who.
Full text in english of the book of jonah my jewish learning. And thats exactly what the not your average bible study series helps you do. Jonah 1 niv bible the word of the lord came to jonah son. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. It is an important book to both religious traditions christianity and jewish. The book of the twelve prophets was originally on one. Introduction jonah is one of the most ridiculed books by liberal scholars.
What is the meaning of the biblical story of jonah in. Jonah has only four chapters, which makes it easy to outline the book chapterbychapter. Book of jonah, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. The book is replete with irony, wherein much of its humor lies. Jonah flees from the lord the word of the lord came to jonah son of amittai. This is a summary on the biblical account of the jonah and the big fish.
He went down to joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point 1. 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. 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. 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. 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. God called to jonah one day and told him to go preach to nineveh because the people were very wicked. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of jonah in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. You can find the best commentary on jonah for you using the tools on the right side. King james i commissioned a group of biblical scholars in 1604 to establish an authoritative translation of the bible from the ancient languages and other. Ostensibly, it records the sayings of micah, whose name is mikayahu hebrew. Jonah the unconscious or unwilling cause of the conversion, first of the mariners, and then of the ninevites, but also teaches the divine truth of the universal fatherhood of god.
The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name the. The book of micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible old testament. Book of jonah read, study bible verses online bible study tools. King james i commissioned a group of biblical scholars in 1604 to establish an. Ac 1188 2 but then we find a startling, thoughtprovoking passage in the work called spiritual. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Concern for the salvation of all people, including ones enemies, is the proper attitude for people of god. 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. This fifth book of the twelve minor prophets contains no oracles and. Thats after the prophet elijah but before amos and hosea. Jonah was a disobedient prophet who is punished but forgiven, and then carries out gods message. Caught in a storm, he orders the ships crew to cast him overboard.
The book of jonah also serves as bulwark against the narrow and rigid thinking of the jews, that they alone were worthy of gods blessings metzger 435. Go at once to nineveh, that great city, and proclaim judgment upon it. Jonah went at once to nineveh in accordance with the lords command. Ac 1188 2 but then we find a startling, thoughtprovoking passage in. But he could not understand how god could love even foreign nations who did bad things. 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. If you are not familiar with the story of jonah spend some time reading it. It tells of a hebrew prophet named jonah son of amittai who is sent by god to. Top 5 commentaries on the book of jonah ligonier ministries. The book of jonah is one of the key readings in judaism during yom kippur, the day of atonement, which occurs on the tenth day of tishri following rosh hashanah, generally in september or early october. The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name the prophet as the author of his own account, but we have no reason to doubt either the inspiration or the historical veracity of the book. Now he obeys and goes to nineveh, the capital of israels ancient enemy. The book is anonymous, and its authorship is in dispute. You will also remember how god provided jonah with a living submarine to get him back where he belonged.
Jonah 1 new international version niv jonah flees from the lord. With his playwrights eye, the physical scenes ripple with dramatic flair. The significance and application of the book of jonah. Jonah 1, new international version niv the bible app. Jonah introduction united states conference of catholic bishops. May 14, 2016 jonah has only four chapters, which makes it easy to outline the book chapterbychapter. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonahs character is anything but dovelike. You can read more indepth bible verses from the scripture below and use the articles and videos to understand the meaning behind this teachable event in the bible. Since jonah prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii 782753 b. It shows us gods compassion for the lost and his patience with his wayward people. God directs jonah, jonah disobeys jon 1 god has compassion on jonah jonah 2 jonah preaches to nineveh, nineveh repents jonah 3 god has. The holy bible book 01 genesis kjv dramatized audio. Full text in english of the book of jonah my jewish. The book depicts the larger scope of gods purpose for israel.
Jonah is a prophet during the reign of king jeroboam ii. The book begins with god telling jonah to go to the great city of nineveh. 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. 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. Go to the great city of nineveh and preach against it, because its. Jonah understands the lords character, his merciful history. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point, only to be swallowed by a great fish and dumped back at this starting point 2. Sep 21, 2015 the book of jonah shows both gods desire to be in the presence of people as well as the desire of some people to not be in his presence. Jonah 1 niv jonah flees from the lord the word of bible. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but. Jonah hated this idea because nineveh was one of israels. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan.
The book of jonah, containing the wellknown story of jonah in the stomach of a fish for three days, is a narrative about a reluctant prophet. He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of god during the reign of king jeroboam ii of israel 2 kings 14. The issue is complicated somewhat by the use of the. The traditional view is that the prophet jonah is the author, and his book is a record of his own experiences. The book of jonah seems like christian bookstore fiction with cool, edgy sex and swearing. Watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. Jonah started out and made his way into the city the distance of one days walk, and proclaimed. This fifth book of the twelve minor prophets contains no oracles and is thus unique among prophetic books. 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. 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 miraculous event many people consider that the problem of the book of jonah consists chiefly in the miraculousness of its contents.
It may be read as an allegory, one of sin and repentance, with gods loving. How could a man be swallowed by a whale and vomited out alive upon the dry land after three days and nights. 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. Which is a bummer because the concept of a modern day retelling of. And jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. The book of jonah reveals to us the depths of gods grace, both to outsiders and to insiders. Identified in verse 1 as the son of amittai, jonah came from a town called.
Jonah is the fifth of the twelve prophets in the book of the twelve in hebrew scripture. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Jonah mosaic in aquileia cathedralmosaic of the biblical story of jonah. Go to the great city of nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. Some people feel that the book of jonah supports a view of universalistic, which is the view that all people can become gods chosen people sasson 25. This bible study book is designed to be paired with teaching videos from priscilla shirer. The book of jonah shows both gods desire to be in the presence of people as well as the desire of some people to not be in his presence. The writer of this article has attempted to do this in stades zeitschrift, 1892, pp. The book of jonah was likely written between 793 and 758 b. The book of jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man. He knows the lord has been faithful to the israelites and to him as an individual. Book of jonah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway.