Best jonah commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. Unlike many of the minor prophets, the book of jonah is mostly written in historicalstory form. The reader will mark that our lord referred to the miraculous preservation of jonah, and his deliverance, as a historical event, recorded in the first and second chapters of the book of jonah, not as a myth or allegory, but as a historical fact. Apr 09, 2015 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. Ancient nineveh ancient manners and customs, daily life, cultures, bible lands. Although the author of jonah is never identified in the book itself, jonah himself has traditionally been identified as the author. Book of jonah historical background dan symonds youtube.
Jonah prophesied during the peaceful and prosperous time of jeroboam ii 2 kings 14. Concern for the salvation of all people, including ones enemies, is the proper attitude for people of god. The primary purpose of jonah is to demonstrate gods character, mainly his grace, mercy, and compassion for humanity, while demonstrating that salvation belongs to the lord, jonah 2. Although the book of jonah is not about world missions, the theme of gods mission to the world is definitely present in the book. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man. 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.
The lord called jonah to go to the great assyrian city of nineveh to pronounce judgment on it. The man jonah was the main character of the book, he was the son of amittai jonah 1. The background to jeremiah is briefly described in the superscription to the book. In the fifteenth year of amaziah the son of joash king of judah jeroboam the son of joash king of israel began to reign in samaria, and reigned forty and one years 2 kings 14. Jonah is the only minor prophet ever to be mentioned by jesus christ. Mar 16, 2019 written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Ancient nineveh background bible study bible history online. Jonah attempted to escape the lords calling by sailing. Therefore, when the title was assigned to it, it may have intended that the book was written by jonah or that the book is about jonah. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Historical background of the book of micah a short summary of micah background of the book of micah book overview of micah 17 themes in micah.
This relationship began with the two sons of isaac and rebecca, jacob and esau. Cultural and historical considerations are especially important for preaching the book of jonah since geography and assyrian culture play a. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. He is also the only ot figure that jesus himself likens unto himself matthew 12. If it is assumed that jonah intends to be a historical account, then certainly much of its content must 1 scholars vary on the specific dates. Historical background in general, the background for the book of obadiah is the relationship between israel and edom. Thus, there has not been any clear, official affirmation that jonah was indeed a historical figure, or that, if he was, the events described in the book of jonah actually happened as described. In summary, i believe that there are three primary reasons to think the book of jonah is not historical. 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 is an historical character and the author of this book. When studying scripture, it is critical to gain understanding of the historical background and cultural setting of the book or passage being. Within its four chapters is perhaps one of the better known childrens bible stories jonah and the big fish. Furthermore, the bible, history, and archaeology all show that nineveh was, in fact, destroyed. The historical background which the book of jonah presents is seen to be utterly authentic, and even the creature not a whale that swallowed jonah is known from the archaeological record. The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name. One other obvious hyperbolic element in the book is the repentance of animals together with the ninevites, which influenced a number of scholars to challenge the historical level of the book. There are additional arguments for the historical nature of the book of jonah. Anyone studying jonah should read this book first, for. Get an answer for what is the historical context of the book of jonah. 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. In the case of the book of jonah the historical background must be considered from a point of view different from that of the prophetical books in the stricter sense.
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. Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of god during the reign of king jeroboam ii of israel 2 kings 14. Obadiah, jonah, micah tyndale old testament commentary by t. Concerning the assumptions of destructive criticism s. Rather than being a series of oracles of the prophet, this book tells of an episode in the prophets life. I want to turn to an historical book, 2 kings, where we read. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. 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 and sailing to tarshish.
Chapters 1,3,4 are written in the 3rd person and chap. It is incredible that one could be alive for three days in a fishs belly. Along with a great influx of wealth into the israelite society during micahs time, came an increasing number of social evils. 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.
God does not desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance 1 tim 2. Book of jonah old testament britannica encyclopedia britannica. 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. Historical and cultural background for jonah preaching source. Jun 15, 2016 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.
Here it is not the external historical surroundings which concern us. Unlike many of the minor prophets, the book of jonah is mostly written in historical story form. 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. It is difficult to say that the story teaches gods sovereignty over the creation if god did not in fact appoint the fish 1. Anyone studying jonah should read this book first, for all other treatments of jonah will come to be judged by it. 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. Book of jonah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. At times, the odd structure and ending of the book have been used to support this theory, since the book does not follow a normal form for historical narrative. 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. 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. The supposed legendary character of some of the events e. Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical. Previous cities like asshur and calah were ancient capitals of assyria, but nineveh became most famous in the seventh century bc.
Jonah lived and ministered in israel during the 8th century bc, during the reign of king jeroboam ii 2 kings 14. The events recorded in the book must have taken place prior to 612, when nineveh was destroyed. Jonah intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. The most difficult and troubling passages often open their meaning and significance in the most beautiful way when the historical and cultural background of the text is grasped. Other than the mention of nineveh and of jonah, the contents offer little help in relating the book to its background. Certainly, god desired jonah to proclaim a message to nineveh in the hopes that they would turn from their wicked ways. Jeremiah began his prophetic mission in the thirteenth year of king josiah about 627 bc and finished in the eleventh year of king zedekiah 586 bc, when jerusalem went into exile in the sixth month. As with any good narrative, the story of jonah has a setting, characters, a plot, and themes. In his article, he attacked the book of jonah by stating. Ironically, the book of jonah is filled with irony, parody and exaggeration that are often overlooked by many interpreters.
The details of the book appear to be historical data. Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. Mar 11, 2008 historical background on the book of jonah. 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. The details in the book of jonah are not historical.
The author does not identify himself in this writing. Some have encountered major themes in the book that does not relate to jonahs 8th century bce context but beyond his time. Within the historical context, the book would have also served as incitement of the original audience, highlighting their narrowminded, nationalistic. Background to the book of jonah sermon by johnny a. Nov 21, 2012 the most difficult and troubling passages often open their meaning and significance in the most beautiful way when the historical and cultural background of the text is grasped. The book of jonah in the context of postexilic theology of.
At times, an unwillingness to accept the possibility of miraculous occurrences the fish, the plant may be central to denying historicity, at other times it is a matter of literary genre 39. Following information from the minor prophets jonah by al maxey. 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. Historical background to jonah the grace commentary. This was a time when assyria was not a threat to israel. The story has a long interpretive history and has become well known through popular childrens stories. The issue is complicated somewhat by the use of the. The historic messages were collected and arranged in book form thereby being intended for later generations of israel and of those until gods.
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 distinctive nature of the book of jonah is revealed in several ways. Macdonald, only chapter 2, jonahs very personal psalm from the belly of the great fish, is in the first person. Book of jonah, also spelled jonas, 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. Professor settle listed several alleged inaccuracies contained in the book. Although some contend this book is a fable and that. A background study russ reaves immanuel baptist church. Book of jonah, also spelled jonas, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names.
What if the book of jonah included all the above but left out the thing about the great fish do you suppose there would be a great push to take the book allegorically or non. What is the historical context of the book of jonah. 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 church has not made any definitive pronouncement on the literal meaning of the book. Historical context critical to understanding the story of jonah the prophet and his dramatic mission to the assyrian capital of nineveh in the 6th. And some have pointed out that the poem in chapter 2 cannot possibly be a historical account of jonahs experience in the fish. The account contains details that appear to be exaggerations, which has raised questions for some readers about how much of the book is historical. Along with a great influx of wealth into the israelite society during micahs time, came an. Jonah 1 background information with maps and images picture. 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.
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