Title:

1. Hebrew – hn"ïAy2. Greek – Iwnaj 3. Latin – Ionas

Author:

JonahJonah

II Kings 14:25 …II Kings 14:25 …Jonah the son of Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher.hepher.

Date of Writing:

782-753 BC

Theme:

The Mercy of God

Purpose of Writing:The story that Jonah recounts is an example of the same principle that Jesus talks about in the parable of the prodigal son. The Ninevites are like the wild and sinful younger son who don’t deserve the forgiveness of the Father but receive it nonetheless. Jonah is like the straight-laced and proud older son who is horrified by the fact that the Father has forgiven the younger son. But the Father wants both sons to come home and enjoy his love.

A Profile of Nineveh:A Profile of Nineveh:

- The capital of the Assyrian Empire- The capital of the Assyrian Empire- Walls 100 feet high- Walls 100 feet high- Walls broad enough for 3 chariots to - Walls broad enough for 3 chariots to ride ride abreast around themabreast around them- Included large gardens and fields for - Included large gardens and fields for cattlecattle- It took 3 days to walk the entire - It took 3 days to walk the entire length of the length of the citycity- The population was probably around - The population was probably around 600,000 600,000

Christ in Jonah:

The Sign of JonahMatthew 12:39-40 Matthew 12:39-40 But He answered But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; the prophet; 4040 for just as JONAH WAS for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” in the heart of the earth.”

Key Issues in Jonah:

1. Why was Jonah so reluctant to prophesy to Nineveh?

2. Was Jonah really swallowed by a great fish?

Why was Jonah so reluctant to prophesy to Why was Jonah so reluctant to prophesy to Nineveh?Nineveh?

Nahum 3:1-3 Nahum 3:1-3 Woe to the bloody Woe to the bloody city, completely full of lies and city, completely full of lies and pillage; Her prey never departs. pillage; Her prey never departs. 22 The noise of the whip, The noise of The noise of the whip, The noise of the rattling of the wheel, Galloping the rattling of the wheel, Galloping horses And bounding chariots! horses And bounding chariots! 33 Horsemen charging, Swords flashing, Horsemen charging, Swords flashing, spears gleaming, Many slain, a mass spears gleaming, Many slain, a mass of corpses, And countless dead of corpses, And countless dead bodies-- They stumble over the dead bodies-- They stumble over the dead bodies!bodies!

"Their men, young and old, I took as "Their men, young and old, I took as prisoners. Of some I cut off the feet and prisoners. Of some I cut off the feet and hands; of others I cut off the noses, ears, hands; of others I cut off the noses, ears, and lips; of the young men's ears I made a and lips; of the young men's ears I made a heap; of the old men's heads I built a heap; of the old men's heads I built a minaret." minaret." 

Why was Jonah so reluctant to prophesy to Nineveh?

Jonah 4:2 I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.

Was Jonah really swallowed by a great Was Jonah really swallowed by a great fish?fish?

Place in the Canon:Jonah serves as a call to all people to repent, not just those whose sins are obvious and weighty but also those who think that they have no sins of which to repent. Jonah serves simultaneously as a reminder that the family of God includes people from all ethnicities who repent and worship the Lord.