She replied, The person who sins, only he shall die (Ezek. Jellinek, p. 102, quoted in Simon, JPS Bible Commentary: Jonah, introduction p. 12. (Jon. “Jonah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Jonah. 3-11; reprinted in Angel, Through an Opaque Lens (New York: Sephardic Publication Foundation, 2006), pp. THE MEANING OF THE BOOK OF JONAH [1]. Ibn Ezra and Radak believe that Jonah was contrasting himself with the sailors who had made vows in 1:16. Change ). It is the most symbol-rich creature in the Scriptures. Supporters are featured on our online Scroll of Honor. Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. “Commentary on Jonah” (Hebrew), HaMa’ayan 51:1 (Tishri 5771-2010), pp. Jonah still was the. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. I am sleeping, but my heart is aroused with the sound of my darling knocking: Open to me, my sister, my shepherdess, my dove, my flawless one: for my head is filled with nightmist, and my locks with the moistures of the night. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.
Instead, they maintain that Jonah was forecasting the insincere (in Jonah’s opinion) repentance of the Ninevites. . Ben-Menahem further suggests that the text does not report Jonah’s response to the captain so that his dramatic proclamation in 1:9 could appear as his first words recorded in the book. Jonah, on the other hand, displays none of these lofty qualities. 1:15, 16, 19; 2:7, 11, 13; 3:18; 5:3; 7:16; 9:1, 13; 10:3. A God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness . Rashi explains that the books were bound together in one scroll because each was so short that some might get lost if not combined into a scroll of greater size. This interpretation seems to lie close to the heart of the book. 18:4, 20). Perhaps Israel would be inspired to repent in light of Nineveh’s repentance. It appears that this theme lies at the heart of the book, creating an insurmountable conflict between Jonah and God. Isn’t this just what I said when I was still in my own country? [8] Regardless of its origins, however, Jonah’s prayer appears integral to the book, and likely contains one of the keys to unlocking the overall purposes of the narrative. Jonah concluded his prayer with two triumphant verses: They who cling to empty folly forsake their own welfare, but I, with loud thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You; what I have vowed I will perform. [16] God has little patience for human immorality, but can tolerate moral people with misguided beliefs. I worship the true God in contrast to all pagans—illustrated by the sailors, and later by the Ninevites. Alternatively, Ben-Menahem (, For further analysis of the interrelationship between Joel, Jonah, and Exodus 34, see Thomas B. Dozeman, “Inner Biblical Interpretation of Y-H-W-H’s Gracious and Compassionate Character,”. For I know that You are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in kindness, renouncing punishment. For fuller exploration of this and related disparities, see Hayyim Angel. The Talmud ascribes the composition of the Twelve Prophets to the Men of the Great Assembly (Bava Batra 15a). This interpretation seems to lie close to the heart of the book.


It is the most symbol-rich creature in the Scriptures. Biblical: because Jonah was on board a ship when God caused it to sink, sailors have traditionally used the name to personify someone who brings bad luck. Cf.

The Lord! Abarbanel (followed by Malbim) submits that Jonah feared the future destruction of Israel by Assyria, of which Nineveh was the capital (cf. Last 10 years This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. And should I not care about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not yet know their right hand from their left, and many beasts as well!” (4:10-11). All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. [14] For further analysis of the interrelationship between Joel, Jonah, and Exodus 34, see Thomas B. Dozeman, “Inner Biblical Interpretation of Y-H-W-H’s Gracious and Compassionate Character,” JBL 108 (1989), pp. After all, they could not distinguish their right from their left in the sense that they served false deities. Jonah, on the other hand, displays none of these lofty qualities. Jonah definition: a Hebrew prophet who, having been thrown overboard from a ship in which he was fleeing... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples [5] Yehoshua Bachrach, Yonah ben Amitai ve-Eliyahu: le-Hora’at Sefer Yonah al pi ha-Mekorot (Hebrew) (Jerusalem: The Religious Department of the Youth and Pioneering Division of the Zionist Organization, 1967), p. 51. ( Log Out /  [8] Simon, JPS Bible Commentary: Jonah, introduction pp.

Who knows but that God may turn and relent? Rabbi Marc D. Angel answers your questions on our YouTube channel! . The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? While in the belly of the big fish (whale), Jonah prayed to God for help, repented, and praised God. The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”. Though not a compelling peshat comment, Abarbanel’s insight is conceptually illuminating regarding the overall purpose of chapter 1. This is a summary of the Biblical account of Jonah and the big fish. He begged for death, saying, “I would rather die than live.” Then God said to Jonah, “Are you so deeply grieved about the plant?” “Yes,” he replied, “so deeply that I want to die” (4:8-9).

That is why I fled beforehand to Tarshish. In his protest, Jonah appealed to God’s attributes of mercy, but with a significant deviation from the classical formula in the aftermath of the Golden Calf: The Lord! Seeking another approach, the twentieth century scholars Yehoshua Bachrach. Ironically, then, Jonah’s profound fear and love of God are what caused him to flee initially, and to demand that God take his life. [9] See further critique of Simon in David Henshke, “The Meaning of the Book of Jonah and Its Relationship to Yom Kippur,” (Hebrew) Megadim 29 (1998), pp. The Dove (Yonah) seek out only pure seeds and grains to eat. The ‘yonah’ dove, in the Scripture is much more than just a beautiful, lovely bird. Adopting a middle position, Sforno suggests that Jonah repented, but the prayer included in the book is a psalm of gratitude after Jonah already was saved. Accessed 5 Oct. 2020. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”, But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. Learn a new word every day. Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. Jonah would rather die than live with a God who did not conform to his religious outlook. [11] Ben-Menahem, Da’at Mikra: Jonah, pp.

( Log Out /  The Dove mates for life where as other birds change partners often.

After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. [2] Another proposes that Jonah was convinced that the Ninevites would repent and God would pardon them. So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? 1:15, 16, 19; 2:7, 11, 13; 3:18; 5:3; 7:16; 9:1, 13; 10:3. God taught Jonah that he did not need to wish for death. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, LORD, have done as you pleased.”. Alternatively, Ben-Menahem (Da’at Mikra: Jonah, p. 13) suggests that Jonah might have thought that God had sent someone else. You can also review our Article Title or Author index. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”, Warren Wiersbe, Darrell Bock & David Chadwick, Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete), Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Sermon on the Mount - Bible Story Verses & Meaning, The Prodigal Son Parable - Bible Story Verses & Meaning, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. This name was later in the Scripture changed to: ‘Ye•ru•sha•la•yim,’ which is the name we use today. Jonah feared that he then would be called a false prophet once his prediction of Nineveh’s destruction went unfulfilled.[3]. Very lovable and sweet. At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”. He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”. It was asked of God: what is the punishment for a sinner?

The Book of Jonah is read every year, in its original Hebrew and in its entirety, on Yom Kippur– th… It was asked of prophecy: what is the punishment for a sinner? Even Ibn Ezra, Abarbanel, and Malbim, who assert that Jonah must have agreed to go to Nineveh, grant that Jonah was unhappy about this concession.

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From this point of view, there is a fundamental struggle between God on the one hand and wisdom and prophecy on the other. God had been willing to destroy the Ninevites for their immorality, but forgave them once they repented. ), The sea was getting rougher and rougher. He replied, let him repent and gain atonement. 22:28-30). Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. . . Last 100 years Up, call upon your god! One may combine their opinions: the sailors and Ninevites both are central to the book of Jonah, each receiving a chapter of coverage.

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