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Survey of Jonah

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Jonah is a book of the Old Testament.

1 – The title of the book

Jonah. The Hebrew word means “dove”. Jonah is a prophet who is also mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25 in the Old Testament He was a native of Gath-hepher, a city of the tribe of Zebulun in Northern Israel. Jonah is prophesying sometime before the military conquests of Jeroboam II (793 – 753 B.C.)

2 – The author of the book

Probably Jonah.

3 – The historical setting

The story of Jonah is set against the historical background of Ancient Palestine in the 8-7 th centuries BC and the religious and social issues of the late sixth to fourth centuries BC. The views accurately coincide with the latter chapters of the book of Isaiah, where Israel is given a prominent place in the expansion of God’s kingdom to the Gentiles.

The Jonah mentioned in II Kings 14:25 lived during the reign of Jeroboam II (786-746 BC) and was from the city of Gath-hepher. This city, modern el-Meshed, located only several miles from Nazareth in what would have been known as Palestine in the post-exilic period and Galilee around the time of Christ.

Nineveh was the capital of the ancient Assyrian empire, which fell to the Medes in 612 BC. The book itself calls Nineveh a “great city,” probably referring to its affluence, but perhaps to its size as well. Assyria often opposed Israel and eventually took the Israelites captive in 722-721 BC.

4 – The theme of the book

It is God’s mercy and compassion extended even to the heathen nations, on the basis of repentance.

5 – The structure of the book

There are two major divisions:-

  • Jonah and the storm (Chapter 1).
  • Jonah and the fish (Chapter 2).
  • Jonah and the city (Chapter 3).
  • Jonah and the Lord (Chapter 4).

6 – Selected studies from the book

  • The problem of the interpretation of the book. There are three views:-
  1. We should interpret the book as a parable.
  2. We should treat the book as an allegory (See Jeremiah 51:34).
  3. It is a historical event (See 2 Kings 14:25 and Matt 12:40,41).
  • The problem of miracles – Chapter 2. Jonah was swallowed by a “great fish”. In the Hebrew language there is no specific word that can be used for whale. However, it is possible that Jonah was swallowed by a whale because this is known to have happened to other men.
  • Why did Jonah disobey God? There may be up to four reasons:-
  1. It was because he hated Gentiles.
  2. It was because of fear.
  3. It was because he was proud.
  4. It was because he knew the people of Nineveh would repent and God forgive them. See 4:1,2. These people are Assyrians, the enemy of Israel. In the near future the Assyrians are going to take the people of Israel captive
  • Missions and Evangelism. See 4:10,11. Jonah was more concerned about a lousy plant than 166,000 people and many cattle. Material things tend to get in missionaries ways.
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