The Strand Study Bible

JONAH

Author : Jonah Theme : The Longsuffering of God Book’s Main Character : Jonah

About the Author : Jonah, whose name means “dove,” was the son of Amittai and a prophet to the nation of Northern Israel. He lived and ministered in Gath-hepher in Galilee and began his ministry in approximately 780 BC (II Ki 14:25). Jonah preached during the reign of Jeroboam II, King of Israel. He was a contemporary of Hosea and Amos (in Israel) and of Isaiah and Micah (in Judah). About the Book : Jonah was commanded by God to go to Nineveh, of Assyria, and cry out against it. He chose to run from God’s will instead. Jonah, most likely, thought the men of Nineveh would torture him. Jonah was more fearful of man’s ways than of God’s Word. Jonah ended up in the belly of a great fish, for three days and three nights, because of his disobedience. After the third day, Jonah repented, and obeyed God by coming to Nineveh, where he cried against the city. God used Jonah’s experience to illustrate CHRIST’S death, burial, and resurrection (Mt 12:39-41). Helpful Background : Unlike Judah, Israel never experienced good leadership under any of her kings. Throughout her 249-year history (from 970-721 BC), Israel failed repeatedly to please the LORD. Like Hosea and Amos, Jonah lived and preached during a time when Israel was at her zenith economically. Spiritually; however, her condition had gone unchanged since her beginning under Jeroboam I. Chastisement was inevitable. Notes of Interest : 1. Jonah is not quoted in the NT 2. Prophecies are referred to 1 time in Jonah . 3. There are 2 inset maps used in the book of Jonah . They are numbered chronologically (#216-217). Outline of Jonah :

1. Jonah Rebels (Jonah 1) 2. Jonah Repents (Jonah 2) 3. Jonah Requires God to Repeat Himself (Jonah 3) 4. Jonah is Rebuked (Jonah 4) Jonah 1

1. “ Jehovah ; God the Father” - Gen 2:4b ) 2. II Ki 14:25 3. or, “preach” - Jonah 3:2 4. Note - Jonah fled from the Word of the LORD because he was fearful of what the Assyrians might do to him. Jonah’s unhealthy fear of Israel’s enemy led him to become prejudiced toward the Assyrians. 5. Note - When Jonah fled from the Word of God there was a ship awaiting him at Joppa. How smooth the path becomes when we are disobedient.

MED SEA

Jonah rebels against the Word of the LORD (Note - Jonah’s prophecy took place around the 23rd year of King Jeroboam II’s reign) Date - c. 780 BC/AM 3220 1 Now the word of the 1 LORD came unto Jonah the son of 2 Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and 3 cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to 4 flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a 5 ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. 4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tem- pest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

• Gath-hepher

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Joppa

DEAD SEA Jonah flees by ship from Joppa to Tarshish Map #216

1:2 Of all the great things that are mentioned in the book of Jonah – the great city (1:2 & 3:2-3 & 4:11), the great wind (1:4), the great tempest (1:12), the great fish (1:17), and the great kindness of God (4:2), Jonah was not one of them. Being a rebel at heart, Jonah was, undoubtedly, the most miserable prophet in the entire Old Testament He not only tried to commit suicide (1:12), he even taunted God to kill him (4:3). NOTE - Jonah was sent by divine commission to help people. Should it matter who those people were? Jonah thought it did. He wanted nothing to do with the Assyrians, even if God did. Because of fear and prejudice, Jonah hopped a merchant ship and headed in the opposite direction of the will of God. Like so many of God’s people, when confronted with the will of God for his life, he ran. He imagined God would somehow ignore his wrongful dash. God did not. Greatness in God’s eyes is a rare thing indeed. Nevertheless, it can be done (See MATTHEW “MINI” SERIES). 1:3 God’s Word is always connected to the presence of the LORD . When you run from God’s Word, you run from His presence. Our relationship to the Word of God determines our relationship to God. To avoid the Word is to avoid God. 1394