Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. I recommend that you take a few moments to read the book of jonah to reacquaint yourself with the adventures of this amazing prophet. Our aim in this book is to tackle purely the spiritual side, and not the theological side. A prophet in northern israel, johan likely lived in 8th century bce. Among the books of the bible, jonah is a bit of an oddball. Well theres only one scripture in the old testament that links with this, and its not a predictive prophecy like we would normally think, its a story from the book of jonah. Apart from the book traditionally ascribed to him, jonah is mentioned only. It merely begins with an instruction from god to go to nineveh and prophesy to its inhabitants. The people of the city repented and so were spared the.
At the end of the day, god is less concerned with what we do for him than who we are in him. As a result of jonahs ministry to assyria, the assyrian captivity of israel was postponed over years. It shows that god has always had concern for the heathen, who are without hope apart from him. While the author could have been someone who obtained the information about the. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. 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. Yonah is a strange prophet, and sefer yonah the book of jonah a strange book.
Although some contend this book is a fable and that jonah never actually lived, the biblical evidence is to the contrary. Feb 05, 2016 from babylon to america, the prophecy movie by school for prophets attila kakarott duration. He was the son of amittai and is most known for being assigned by god to go to the notorious metropolis of nineveh, the assyrian capital, and forewarn the people of coming judgement. The book of jonah is different from the other prophetic books of the bible. This means that at the time of writing, the author already knew that the city was not destroyed. Jonah refused in fear and hatred of the citys immorality so he tried to sail to a city far from. The story of jonah coincides with historical conditions at nineveh. Much discussion about the book of jonah has debated whether its story reflects literal history or not, what the books literary form is, and how its purpose should be understood. The book of jonah stands as an important link in the prophetic chain. Evidence jesus is the messiah jonah prophecy revealed. The theme of repentance nominates it for being read on yom kippur, but it has less to say. In the book of jonah, god reveals to him the wickedness of. God does not desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance 1 tim 2. The latter prophets follow psalms and the wisdom books in the greek septuagint, as well as our christian old testament of the bible.
Gods judgments, even when declared in prophecy, can be averted by genuine repentance. The book of jonah is more than just a delightful story for children. In other words, nineveh would have been transformed after 40 days, just like the prophecy said, whether through repentance or through physical destruction. 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. The old testament foretold a key event that would take place in documented history.
This is the only mention of the prophet outside of the book of jonah. Jonah was a prophet of the old testament and is most famous for being swallowed by a fish. The prophet jonah second second, jonah s prophecy was not in error, because implied in the prophecy was a condition under which the predicted judgment would not take place. The book of nahum prophesied and described its doom. His home town was gathhepher, an obscure village about 3 miles northeast of nazareth, where jesus was brought up.
The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Prior to this prophecy, it had been a difficult time for israel, full of affliction and bitterness 2 kings 14. 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. Jonah was a prophet, but his little book is not a prophecy that is, there is no prophecy of the future recorded in it. Such objections fall outside the realm of serious scholarship for the lord himself attested to its historicity matthew 12.
The name is usually taken to mean dove, but in view of the complaining words of the prophet, it is not unlikely that the name is derived from the root yanah to mourn, with the signification dolens or complaining. Typically, prophets issued warnings or gave instructions to the people of israel. It is an important book to both religious traditions christianity and jewish because of its message of doom upon israels longtime enemy. There was a jonah, son of amittai, who lived during the eighth century b. Its position in the hebrew canon indicates this date. Jonahs message to nineveh reveals that prophecy is sometimes conditional.
Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical. That is the point of the book of jonah in the old testament. The book of the twelve prophets was originally on one. Jonah was a prophet, whose known life is recorded in the biblical books of jonah and very briefly in second kings. Jul 07, 2006 jonah preached to a monotheistic people, but the god they worshipped was nebo. The upsidedown, perfectionist prophecy of jonah mosaic. The most popular bible verses from jonah found 48 verses jonah 1. Was jonahs prophecy of ninevehs destruction fulfilled. The second cites jonahs supplications in the belly of the fish as an archetype of efficacious prayer. Certainly, god desired jonah to proclaim a message to nineveh in the hopes that they would turn from their wicked ways.
We wish to take from this beautiful book beneficial lessons for our life. Although the book of jonah is not about world missions, the theme of gods mission to the world is definitely present in the book. Jonah the misunderstood prophet prophecy updates and. If nineveh never repented and god did nothing or nineveh repented and god destroyed it, jonah could be a false prophet because his prophecy could not have come to pass. The book of jonah has been attacked by the destructive critics. This article focuses instead on the books typological mode of prophecy of christ. Jeroboam increased israels borders in accordance with jonahs prophecy 2 ki. The book of jonah is only 4 chapters 48 verses in length. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of jonah in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Prophecy coming to pass not a test of a true prophet. 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 prophesied to the city of nineveh, that if they didnt repent within forty days time, god would destroy the city. Jonah prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii, king of the north 793753 b. The second was recorded in the book of jonah to bring repentance and revival to the. Some of the other great lessons of the book of jonah are.
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. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. The condition of his soul, and gods loving discipline of him, instruct and humble the reader. Jeroboam fulfilled god prophecy given through jonah 2 kings 14. The book of jonah claims to be a record of events in the life of jonah, the son of amittai, who prophesied the expansion of israel to its former bounds just prior to. Overlooking these features in ot narrative and prophecy, many have supposed that a story that. Although this victory actually was achieved in fulfillment of jonah s prophecy, amos later confronted the same king. The book of jonah the prophet is full of wonderful spiritual contemplation. As far as stories go, the book shows some resemblance with the first six chapters of the book. Jonah prophesied that jeroboam iis kingdom would expand to the former extent of israel during the united kingdom excluding the southern portion of judah and benjamin. So completely was the prophecy concerning the destruction of nineveh fulfilled that the. The book of jonah the book is unique in that it is more concerned with the prophet himself than with his prophecy. Dec 23, 2017 the old testament foretold a key event that would take place in documented history. The sensational and supernatural aura that surrounds the events of the book and captures the readers attention from start to finish is another distinctive characteristic of the book.
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. Now the word of the lord came to jonah son of amittai, saying amp. Not too long after the ministry of elijah and elisha, another prophet came onto the scene in the northern kingdom of israel during the rule of jeroboam ii 2 kings 14. The second was recorded in the book of jonah to bring repentance and revival to. For as jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth matthew 12. In this video, you will see how the story of jonah foreshadows jesus and contains a prophecy that history.
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. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. It is an important book to both religious traditions christianity and jewish. Jonah is the only old testament prophet whose ministry is entirely on foreign soil. Jonah is the fifth of the twelve prophets in the book of the twelve in hebrew scripture. Forty more days and nineveh will be overturned jon. The story of the prophet jonah is recorded in the book of jonah, which is part of the bible, and is read in the synagogue every year on the day of atonement. The reluctant missionary the disciples bible commentary book 28 kindle edition by carter, john w.
This makes jonah one of the few prophets who hailed from the northern kingdom of israel. The theme of repentance nominates it for being read on. Did jonahs prophecy about the destruction of nineveh fail. Jonah prophecy came to pass with the 1 option reason jonah is a true prophet. Jonah is the central character in the book of jonah, in which god commands him to go to the city of nineveh to prophesy against it for their great wickedness is come up before me, but jonah instead attempts to flee from the presence of the lord by going to jaffa sometimes transliterated as joppa or joppe, and sailing to tarshish.
The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. The prophets of the lord were speaking to israel regarding these events. Jeroboam increased israels borders in accordance with jonah s prophecy 2 ki. Mar 17, 2009 the prophet jonah second second, jonahs prophecy was not in error, because implied in the prophecy was a condition under which the predicted judgment would not take place.
During jonahs years as a prophet, israel stood tall. In the midst of the obscure prophecies before and after this book, wherein. Irony exists in the gaps, between what we are told and what we are meant to understand. The critics, though certain of almost all of their objections to the bible, have not all decided whether it is based on history, or is a nature myth. His name was jonah son of amittai from gathhepher near. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the jewish tanakh. Literary characteristics unlike most other prophetic parts of the ot, this book is a narrative account of a single prophetic mission. While the author could have been someone who obtained the information about the event e. Elisha spoke to the king of israel concerning future victories over.
One of the greatest prophets during the time of jeroboam ii was jonah the son of amitai, who, as a prophet disciple, had anointed jehu and who, therefore, enjoyed the kings benevolence. The book of jonah gives no indication of his prophetic activity in the land of israel. What the book of acts is to the new testament, the prophecy of jonah is to the old testament. The prophet jonah delivered the following message to the citizens of nineveh. Jonah lived, according to bible chronology, in the early half of the eighth century before christ, and prophesied in the time of jeroboam ii of israel.
Focused on the prophet rather than his prophecy, the story of jonah gives us a picture of a man on the run due to his own selfish desires. Introduction jonah is one of the most ridiculed books by liberal scholars. Nov 12, 2018 well theres only one scripture in the old testament that links with this, and its not a predictive prophecy like we would normally think, its a story from the book of jonah. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The prophecy of jonah 111 commentaries on the bible. According to this passage, jonah had prophesied that israel would expand her boundaries, and under the leadership of the king, the prophecy had been fulfilled. We wish to benefit from gods work and from peoples virtues and. Yet forty days and nineveh will be overthrown jon 3. Sep 12, 2017 about jonah the prophet jonah son of amittai also appears in 2 kings 14. The conditional nature of prophecy truth or tradition.
The book of jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. Instead, god told jonah to evangelize in the city of nineveh, home of israels cruelest enemy. A bible prophecy problem concerning the resurrection. Instead of showing mercy to his enemies, he determined to keep gods grace to himself rather than share it with. Nov 21, 2012 although the book of jonah is not about world missions, the theme of gods mission to the world is definitely present in the book. Now the word of the lord came unto jonah the son of amittai, saying, kjv. Jesuss identification with the prophet at the lowest point of jonah s life finds echoes in the book of hebrews, where it teaches that jesus had to be made like his brethren in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest hebrews 2. Another good example of the conditional nature of prophecy is in the book of jonah. It tells of a hebrew prophet named jonah son of amittai who is sent by god to. This is a crucial theological truth relating human repentance to escaping from anticipated judgment new laymans bible commentary. Oct 28, 2018 gods response to jonahs anger is particularly interesting. About jonah the prophet jonah son of amittai also appears in 2 kings 14. In images from jonahs stormtossed sea experiences to those in his prophetic prayer of affliction while in the lords great fish belly of hell, the book contains a.
It is a symbolic prophecy represented by the three days and three nights that jonah spent in the stomach of a great fish jonah 1. It is, instead, a personal account of a major event in the life of jonah. Jesus links his resurrection only one time with the old testament. 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 seemed to be very motivated to this kind of prophecy. Jonahs anger and gods answers to the oncedisobedient prophets anger constitute most of the fourth chapter. Although this victory actually was achieved in fulfillment of jonahs prophecy, amos later confronted the same king. Ive heard people tell a story from the time that such an event actually occurred about a hundred years ago. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. He warned them they must repent and turn to jehovah, and worship and serve him only. Jonah was unquestionably disobedient to gods initial command to go to nineveh, and the book of jonah does end with jonah in a deep funk regarding the. I propose that the story of jonah, whether literal or not, was written in a. The ninevites clearly understood what jonah meant namely, that their city would be overthrown unless they repented jonah 3. The book of jonah recounts real events in the life and ministry of the prophet himself.
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