It is difficult to say that the story teaches gods sovereignty over the creation if god did not in fact appoint the fish 1. Saint augustine in the 5th century remarked that the story of jonah was the laughing stock of the pagans. Aside from the criticism of jonah being miraculous, some of the more prominent criticisms launched at the jonah story included. Normally, prophets hear a call from god and immediately obey. The only reference to jonah in a historical context is found in 2 kings 14. Indeed, the prophet and his surroundings provide wonderful examples from which the reader can learn. The book is far longer than any other parable in scripture, and it is cumbersome in its arrangement. Perhaps the third quarter of the eighth century is the most likely date for the book, after the public ministries of amos and hosea and before the fall of samaria to assyria in 722721. Catholics have always looked upon the book of jonah as a factnarrative. Since jonah was a contemporary of amos, see introduction to amos.
Jonah flees his mission chapters 1 2 jonahs commission and flight 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. Caught in a storm, he orders the ships crew to cast him overboard. 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.
The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. 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. This quote from authors william lasor, david hubbard and frederic bush is important in our understanding of the book of jonah. When it comes to historical context, there are two contexts. The lord plainly declared that jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish mt. Ac 1188 2 but then we find a startling, thoughtprovoking passage in. The book of jonah, despite its brevity, gives some verifiable information regarding nineveh, a very old city, which disappeared completely after its destruction in 612 bce. Third, the poem in chapter 2 does appear to be a later rendering of jonahs experience in the fish. Mostsince kleinert 1868 and bloch 1875 have regarded the book of jonah as a work of the imagination. A reference section at the end of the book shares historical and geographical notes about the story, including details about the ship jonah might have sailed on and a fascinating discussion of the ancient city of nineveh and the location of its ruins in presentday iraq. 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. Like the book of jonah, the book of ruth, a masterpiece of storytelling, has a moral lesson, but this lesson may not be the chief reason why the book was written. Historical context critical to understanding the story of jonah the prophet and his dramatic mission to the assyrian capital of nineveh in the. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries.
Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man. Sep 20, 2018 another reason to doubt the book of jonah is historical is the surprising reaction that others have to jonahs words. Mar 16, 2019 written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Following information from the minor prophets jonah by al maxey. 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 literary and historical aspects of the book of jonah tell an intriguing narrative.
Another reason to doubt the book of jonah is historical is the surprising reaction that others have to jonahs words. What follows is jonahs journey to acceptance of gods love and grace. 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. This was a time when assyria was not a threat to israel. Based on the historical and linguistic issues, the book of jonah reflects four major themes. Historical context critical to understanding the story of jonah the prophet and his dramatic mission to the assyrian capital of nineveh in the 6th. 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.
Although some contend this book is a fable and that. The historic messages were collected and arranged in book form thereby being intended for later generations of israel and of those until gods. Jonah, book of webbible encyclopedia christiananswers. 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. In the works of some recent catholic writers there is a leaning to regard the book as fiction. There are additional arguments for the historical nature of the book of jonah. It must be admitted right from the beginning that there will be differences of opinion. Despite the historical conceivability of jonah taking a threeday missionary journey around nineveh, the repentance and conversion of nineveh recorded in jonah 3. I want to turn to an historical book, 2 kings, where we read. Summary of the book of jonah the story of the bible. Mar, 20 aside from the criticism of jonah being miraculous, some of the more prominent criticisms launched at the jonah story included. Wiseman, a careful analysis of the historical evidence shows that the details related in the book of jonah exhibit an intimate and accurate knowledge of assyria which could stem from an historical event as early as the eighth century bc, and as such the story of jonah need not be.
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. 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. 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. Jonah, ruth, and esther cliffsnotes study guides book. The reactions of other people to this prophet are the complete opposite of how almost everyone else responded to prophets in the bible. Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. Considers the book of jonah as a parable designed to teach a lesson in which jonah represents israel, and the fish which swallowed him as israels captivity. What is the historical context of the book of jonah. Book of jonah historical background dan symonds youtube.
Some critics have sought to interpret the book as a parable or allegory, and not as a history. Ironically, the book of jonah is filled with irony, parody and exaggeration that are often overlooked by many interpreters. He is the central figure of the book of jonah, in which he is called upon by. 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. It is a story about a hebrew woman named naomi who lives during the period of the judges, prior to the establishment of the monarchy. However, it is the exclusive attributes of god which are revealed as the central function for the book of jonah. In the christian tradition, the prophet jonah symbolizes resurrection from death after three days and nights in the fishs belly, which is also. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible.
The historicity of the book of jonah, and why it still. This prophet, if we are to regard him as an historical personage, lived during the reign of the second jeroboam. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. 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. Besides this, it names an actual historical figure as its main character. Is the book of jonah is factual, allegorical, mythical or.
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. Apart from the hymn ascribed to jonah ii, 211 the contents of the book are prose. 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. Jonah is an historical character and the author of this book. Date and historical situation for additional details. 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. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. As jonah was three days and three nights in the whales belly, so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. All of these facts point away from jonah being a parable. 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. The man jonah was the main character of the book, he was the son of amittai jonah 1. Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical.
Some prefer to call it an allegory, others a parable, others a prose poem, others a didactic story, others a midrash, others a symbolic book radical critics boldly set aside the teaching of jesus as erroneous. 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. Jonahs displeasure at gods merciful decision, and the rebuke tendered to the impatient prophet. 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. This book consists of a defense of the traditional view of the book of jonah as a true history. Third, the poem in chapter 2 does appear to be a later rendering of jonah s experience in the fish. Historians consider the biblical account about jonah s warning against nineveh as a pious fiction, however, the gospels refer to it as a real story lk 11. The book of jonah recounts real events in the life and ministry of the prophet himself. The book of jonah intro to jonah biblica the international bible. The dimensions mentioned seem colossal, however they agree. Jonah or jonas, in the hebrew bible tanakhold testament, is a prophet of the northern kingdom of israel in about the 8th century bce. He is also the only ot figure that jesus himself likens unto himself matthew 12. The second school of thought and the majority position in modern scholarship is that the story of jonah is a parable, arguing that the didactic nature of the book stresses the narrowness of nationalism, the universalism of god, or other various ideas that might comply well with a parable format bullock, 52.
Nov 21, 2012 historical background to jonah november 21, 2012 by jeremy myers 5 comments when studying scripture, it is critical to gain understanding of the historical background and cultural setting of the book or passage being studied. 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. The book of jonah is about an event that jesus said took place in history. The traditional view is that the prophet jonah is the author, and his book is a record of his own experiences. Literary characteristics unlike most other prophetic parts of the ot, this book is a narrative account of a single prophetic mission.
The story of jonah as allegory, parable or history. 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 2. Nineveh was spared after jonahs mission for more than a century. Which of the definitions best describes the book of jonah. Jonah prophesied during the peaceful and prosperous time of jeroboam ii 2 kings 14. In other words, jonah caught more fish in his net than ever before thus we have. Key subjects addressed include jesus statements in the gospels, the role of the supernatural in history, the historical situation of the book of jonah, and the relationship between the historicity of the bible and the inerrancy of the bible. The book is anonymous, and its authorship is in dispute. In jonah 3, after the prophets preaching, historys greatest revival took place. 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. Skepticism towards the book and the bible as a whole continues to this day in even greater intensity. The details of the book appear to be historical data. 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. Apr 04, 2020 despite the historical conceivability of jonah taking a threeday missionary journey around nineveh, the repentance and conversion of nineveh recorded in jonah 3.
Jonah is the only minor prophet ever to be mentioned by jesus christ. May 27, 2012 according to the distinguished archeologist donald j. Book of jonah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. The story has a long interpretive history and has become well known through popular childrens stories. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. Considers the book of jonah as a true and literal narration of facts which occurred exactly as they were related in the book.
The lord called jonah to go to the great assyrian city of nineveh to pronounce judgment on it. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. A firm principle in biblical study is that, even in a clearly historical passage, the theological message is more important than historical details. Second, if the book of jonah is actually a fictitious account with no historical basis, what does this do to the credibility of jesus of nazareth. Keep the above definitions in mind as you read the entire book. 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 book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name. Jonah lived and ministered in israel during the 8th century bc, during the reign of king jeroboam ii 2 kings 14. According to the distinguished archeologist donald j. What you need to know about the book of jonah digital. This book professes to give an account of what actually took place in the experience of the prophet. Apocalypse explained ae 538 11 particulars in the book of jonah are historical, and yet prophetical, involving and representing such arcana, as do all the other historicals of the word. Date of writing for a number of reasons, including the preaching to gentiles, the book is often assigned a postexilic date.