So, in perhaps what is the most jarring juxtaposition of ideas in the old testament, jonahs. We read, with a great deal of pleasure, in the close of the foregoing chapter, concerning the repentance of nineveh. For personal study, i suggest you start at the beginning of a chapter or book. Top 5 commentaries on the book of jonah ligonier ministries. The book exemplifies the miraculous power and supremacy of god over his entire creation. He examines jonahs inner process, telling us what jonah must have. This little book therefore contains very practical lessons for every reader. An easyenglish commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of amos. Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical. He chose this specific way because of the effect it would have on jonahs heart. Jonah therefore is the only prophet of the ot revealing the grace of god towards the heathen.
The understanding the bible commentary series offers pastors, students, and laypeople commitment to accessibility without sacrificing serious scholarship. This commentary has been through advanced theological checking. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. In the midst of the obscure prophecies before and after this book, wherein. The book of jonah is simultaneously pathetic and hilarious. One could describe kimchis commentary as psychological. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man.
Perhaps the third quarter of the eighth century is the most likely date for the book, after the public ministries of amos and hosea and before the fall of samaria to assyria in 722721. The word translated a great fish in the old testament, and a. The many things that happen in the book show that it uses ironic contrasts and exaggerations to make its message entertaining. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point 1. Commentary on the book of jonah relevant bible teaching. Recommended sites bible info questions with answers in major world languages. Jonah was a prophet in the land of israel about 800750 bc. Highlights from the books of obadiah, jonah, and micah the vision of obadiah. And, as any schoolboy knows, a whale is a mammal, not a fish. This book of jonah, though it be placed here in the midst of the prophetical books of scripture, is yet rather a history than a prophecy.
They wished to know of what country he was, that, knowing who was the god of his. He quotes his father in his commentary to the book of jonah. Yonah is a strange prophet, and sefer yonah the book of jonah a strange book. The theme of repentance nominates it for being read on yom. Set in the reign of jeroboam ii 786746 bc, it was probably written in the postexilic period, some time between the late 5th to early 4th century bc. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. Dive into an intriguing tale of mercy in the book of jonah. The book of jonah is more than just a delightful story for children. This is because the story is not very favourable towards jonah. Understanding the bible commentary series ubc 36 vols. It is not possible to learn everything about it in thirty.
The understanding the bible commentary series helps any reader navigate the strange and sometimes intimidating literary terrain of the bible. So if you are interested in studying jonah, bookmark this page, and check back soon. Zvi focuses on how the audience would have read itand even how they would have reread it, since books and stories are. The prophet isaiah owns that therefore he was not rebellious, neither turned.
No writer in the bible tells such a bad story about himself. So jonah is another example of how central grace and mercy are in the understanding of god that we find the hebrew bible and judaism how is it ironic and entertaining. David guzik commentary on jonah 2, where jonah spends three days in the belly of a fish, where he declares his commitment to god. Nov 20, 2012 this is a project that has been on my mind for over four and a half years outlining all the books of the bible, from genesis to revelation. The theme of repentance nominates it for being read on yom kippur, but it has less to say about repentance than it. David kimchi was an important scholar of hebrew grammar and wrote michlol, an early comprehensive study of it. For a broader view look at the comments in the right column. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh.
These words begin the bible book of obadiahthe prophet reveals nothing about himself except his name in the book that he composed in 607 b. The bible itself provides many of the keys to understanding it. Nothing is known of the author, although his prophecy against edom, a neighbor and rival of israel, indicates a date of composition sometime after the babylonian destruction of jerusalem in 587 b. Jonah 4 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. We need to place ourselves in his shoes and try to understand how he felt. A commentary on the book of jonah using ancient bible study methods. Jonah micah nahum habakkuk zephaniah haggai zechariah malachi. If you keep this structure in mind, the old testament will begin to take shape for you. To avoid delivering the message of destruction to nineveh, jonah boards a ship heading other direction. Signs of jonah emphasizes how the book of jonah was received by its readers and how it can help understanding of the culture and society of the time. The audience of the book of jonah was the people of israel and all future readers of the bible and, typically, prophets issued warnings or gave instructions to the people of israel.
This fiveday reading plan explores the book of james through heather hairs adapted commentary originally written by christian classic author matthew henry. A free bible commentary on the book of jonah in simple english. Jonah s experiences form the main contents and purpose of the book. May 14, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of nahum, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. As the grace commentary on jonah is written, posts will be added to the chapters below. I used to think that god never gave reasons for what he does but now i am convinced that god always makes commentary to jonah rev. Mercy triumphs over judgment commentary on the book of jonah. Read your own bible, the bible as quoted on this site, and my comments. What happens when god wants a person to do something, but the person doesnt want to do it. In this book, nahum portrays the downfall of nineveh and assyria as an.
If you have ever attended church, sunday school, or bedtime story sessions as a child, you have likely heard about the story in the book of jonah at some point. The prophecy of jonah to jeroboam conveys some important background material to enhance our understanding of this book. Commentary on the book of jonah jonah 1 1the word of the lord came to jonah the son of amittai saying, 2arise, go to nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me. The result is the most extensive commentary now available on the book of jonah. The book is replete with irony, wherein much of its humor lies. Gods servants must obey him even when the circumstances are contrary to their expectations. An easyenglish 2800 word vocabulary commentary on the book of jonah. Jonah shows us that god has a way of bringing us to the place where we want what god. Mar 16, 2019 written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. In view of that curiosity, says sasson, i have had to devote much space to establishing what the book of jonah says, what ancient translators understood it to say, and what contemporary authorities think it should say x. The broad variety of opinions on this subject from the talmudic sages through modem commentaries can be subsumed under four basic headings. Jonah free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Scholars debate the date and authorship of the book of jonah because there are so few. The bible is an enormous book covering much information and many subjects.
But we will see that gods mission is not primarily directed toward nineveh as often taught, but in a different direction altogether. Aug 10, 2010 yonah is a strange prophet, and sefer yonah the book of jonah a strange book. A discourse analysis of the hebrew bible zondervan exegetical commentary on the old testament by kevin j. Regardless of your background, gods message in the bible is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away. The purpose of the book of jonah was to encourage all gods people to extend mercy to the nations of the world, something they were not at all inclined to do. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. Excerpt from this recommended resource apple quotes from many excellent resources here is an example from pastor thomas leake of hope bible church.
I will argue in the commentary that follows that the mission of god is the central theme. It tells of a hebrew prophet named jonah son of amittai who is sent by god to prophesy the destruction of nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission. It does seem safe to conclude that this jonah is the same person as the jonah who is the subject of the book of jonah, especially since both are identified as the son of amittai 2 cp. Moreover, some critics argue that the book of jonah depicts the prophet as being swallowed by a great fish jon. Douglas stuart hoseajonah word biblical commentary, 1987.
He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. David guzik commentary on jonah 4, where jonah expresses his complaint about the repentance of nineveh, and gets confronted by god about it. Best commentaries and books on jonah logos bible software. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonahs character is anything but dovelike. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Despite human weaknesses in those god selects, he is still. Even the truth of god pleases the human heart often only as long as the own importance can be stressed by it. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. What factors within the book of jonah cause sumney to suggest that its genre is that of folktale. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Jonah was gods prophet to israel, his whole being was bound up in the salvation.
Introduction jonah is the book of the bible which perhaps has been criticized more than any other. As the sections are completed, this is where they will get posted. A selection of the best commentaries and bible study resources on the book of. Jonahs experiences form the main contents and purpose of the book. During this time, an important event happened to israel. Jonah 4 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. Unfortunately, many christians thoughtlessly cast aspersions upon this important book in the canon of scripture without realizing that they are playing into the hands of the critics and innocently becoming the dupes of the skeptics.
Read jonah 1 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole. Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of god during the reign of king jeroboam ii of israel 2 kings 14. The book of jonah shows us important principles about the sovereignty of god. But he could not understand how god could love even foreign nations who did bad things. He is cast into the sea, and miraculously preserved. This is a project that has been on my mind for over four and a half years outlining all the books of the bible, from genesis to revelation. But it displeased jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. In the logos edition, each scripture passage links to your favorite translation, and the series is easy to study side by side with your other commentaries. Highlights from the books of obadiah, jonah, and micah. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. This book, the shortest among the twelve minor prophets, is a single twentyoneverse oracle against edom. These are the last words of jonah recording in this book, but thankfully they are not the last words of the book. Minor prophets i understanding the bible commentary. These accessible volumes break down the barriers between the ancient and modern worlds so that the power and meaning of the biblical texts become transparent to contemporary readers. The prophetic significance of this book not only lies in the short message in nineveh but also in the entire history of jonah described in his book. This series is not ment to be an exhaustive, indepth. I am currently writing commentary on the book of jonah. Watch our overview video on the book of nahum, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Zvi focuses on how the audience would have read itand even how they would have reread it, since books and stories are repeated and pondered time after time.
Jonah 4 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Audio readings of each chapter are also provided by heather. Read and study jonah, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary hi, sign out. Minor prophets i understanding the bible commentary series.
329 634 290 1039 1089 656 1618 781 957 1109 345 1290 1516 1221 848 1260 744 681 488 285 742 1275 988 170 203 621 689 1239 937 1291 82 1395 552