The historic messages were collected and arranged in book form thereby being intended for later generations of israel and of those until gods. However, it is the exclusive attributes of god which are revealed as the central function for the book of jonah. 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. In the works of some recent catholic writers there is a leaning to regard the book as fiction. 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. This book professes to give an account of what actually took place in the experience of the prophet. The only reference to jonah in a historical context is found in 2 kings 14.
Summary of the book of jonah the story of the bible. Is the book of jonah is factual, allegorical, mythical or. 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. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man.
Ironically, the book of jonah is filled with irony, parody and exaggeration that are often overlooked by many interpreters. The story of jonah as allegory, parable or history. 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. Another reason to doubt the book of jonah is historical is the surprising reaction that others have to jonahs words. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. 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. 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. 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. Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. The book of jonah intro to jonah biblica the international bible. Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical.
Catholics have always looked upon the book of jonah as a factnarrative. 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. 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. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. It must be admitted right from the beginning that there will be differences of opinion. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Saint augustine in the 5th century remarked that the story of jonah was the laughing stock of the pagans. Third, the poem in chapter 2 does appear to be a later rendering of jonahs experience in the fish. 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. Mar, 20 aside from the criticism of jonah being miraculous, some of the more prominent criticisms launched at the jonah story included.
Besides this, it names an actual historical figure as its main character. Historical context critical to understanding the story of jonah the prophet and his dramatic mission to the assyrian capital of nineveh in the. 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. 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. In the christian tradition, the prophet jonah symbolizes resurrection from death after three days and nights in the fishs belly, which is also. 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. Since jonah was a contemporary of amos, see introduction to amos. What is the historical context of the book of jonah. There are additional arguments for the historical nature of the book of jonah. 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. Jonah lived and ministered in israel during the 8th century bc, during the reign of king jeroboam ii 2 kings 14.
This prophet, if we are to regard him as an historical personage, lived during the reign of the second jeroboam. Literary characteristics unlike most other prophetic parts of the ot, this book is a narrative account of a single prophetic mission. 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. 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. 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. Caught in a storm, he orders the ships crew to cast him overboard. 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. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Historical context critical to understanding the story of jonah the prophet and his dramatic mission to the assyrian capital of nineveh in the 6th. The details of the book appear to be historical data.
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. Jonah prophesied during the peaceful and prosperous time of jeroboam ii 2 kings 14. In jonah 3, after the prophets preaching, historys greatest revival took place. Jonah flees his mission chapters 1 2 jonahs commission and flight 1. A firm principle in biblical study is that, even in a clearly historical passage, the theological message is more important than historical details. 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. 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. Despite the historical conceivability of jonah taking a threeday missionary journey around nineveh, the repentance and conversion of nineveh recorded in jonah 3. 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. Skepticism towards the book and the bible as a whole continues to this day in even greater intensity. According to the distinguished archeologist donald j. 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.
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. May 27, 2012 according to the distinguished archeologist donald j. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Based on the historical and linguistic issues, the book of jonah reflects four major themes.
I want to turn to an historical book, 2 kings, where we read. Third, the poem in chapter 2 does appear to be a later rendering of jonah s experience in the fish. The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name. Although some contend this book is a fable and that. Which of the definitions best describes the book of jonah. The book is far longer than any other parable in scripture, and it is cumbersome in its arrangement. What follows is jonahs journey to acceptance of gods love and grace. 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. This book consists of a defense of the traditional view of the book of jonah as a true history.
The dimensions mentioned seem colossal, however they agree. Jonah is the only minor prophet ever to be mentioned by jesus christ. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. It is difficult to say that the story teaches gods sovereignty over the creation if god did not in fact appoint the fish 1. Jonah is an historical character and the author of this book. 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. 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.
All of these facts point away from jonah being a parable. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. Jonah, book of webbible encyclopedia christiananswers. The reactions of other people to this prophet are the complete opposite of how almost everyone else responded to prophets in the bible. 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. Nineveh was spared after jonahs mission for more than a century.
Book of jonah historical background dan symonds youtube. In other words, jonah caught more fish in his net than ever before thus we have. This quote from authors william lasor, david hubbard and frederic bush is important in our understanding of the book of jonah. 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. 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. 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. Sep 20, 2018 another reason to doubt the book of jonah is historical is the surprising reaction that others have to jonahs words. The book of jonah recounts real events in the life and ministry of the prophet himself. The literary and historical aspects of the book of jonah tell an intriguing narrative. Mar 16, 2019 written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. He is the central figure of the book of jonah, in which he is called upon by. Keep the above definitions in mind as you read the entire book. Following information from the minor prophets jonah by al maxey.
He is also the only ot figure that jesus himself likens unto himself matthew 12. Ac 1188 2 but then we find a startling, thoughtprovoking passage in. Aside from the criticism of jonah being miraculous, some of the more prominent criticisms launched at the jonah story included. The historicity of the book of jonah, and why it still. When it comes to historical context, there are two contexts. However, the book of jonah is presented in a nonhistorical setting. Mostsince kleinert 1868 and bloch 1875 have regarded the book of jonah as a work of the imagination. The book is anonymous, and its authorship is in dispute. 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.
What you need to know about the book of jonah digital. 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. The book of jonah is about an event that jesus said took place in history. The lord plainly declared that jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish mt. Normally, prophets hear a call from god and immediately obey. 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. Apart from the hymn ascribed to jonah ii, 211 the contents of the book are prose. Date of writing for a number of reasons, including the preaching to gentiles, the book is often assigned a postexilic date. Date and historical situation for additional details. Book of jonah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway.
Jonahs displeasure at gods merciful decision, and the rebuke tendered to the impatient 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. 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. 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 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. 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.