Jonah Introduction

Jonah was a Prophet that lived in the city of Gath-hepher, in Galilee, 3 miles from Nazareth. He was of the Tribe of Zebulum. His fathers name was Amittai. In 2nd. Kings 14:25, we read of a man named Jonah who was a messenger of mercy sent of the Lord to Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II around 750 B.C.

The story is history rather than prophecy; still much controversy characterizes the book. Some view it as an allegory, some as a story told for instructional purposes and some, as we said, view it as history.

Many aspects of the story bring up debatable questions:

  1. The great fish.
  2. Jonah's expulsion from the fish, safe and sound.
  3. There is no historical record of the conversion of all the people of Nineveh.
  4. There is no historical record of any Assyrian King that was called "King of Nineveh".
  5. Nineveh's size, "3 days journey across", approx. 54 miles, or 170 miles around is not borne out in the history books which list it's size as being 8 miles around an inner city and 12 miles around an outer city.

In spite of these difficulties, we accept this story to be part of God's Word and as being historical in nature.

Lets first look at the story first as it is recorded in the book and then look at a symbolic interpretation accepted by many Jewish and Christian scholars.

Study of the Book of Jonah

SubjectChapter
Jonah's Reluctance to God's Command1
Jonah's Repentance2
Jonah's Message3
Jonah's Anger4


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