Background: God told the prophet Jonah to go to Nineveh, capital of Assyria (a cruel enemy of Israel) that God was going to punish her. After attempts to evade God’s orders, Jonah reluctantly preached in the city and the Ninevites turned to God. Jonah was furious with God for showing mercy to such wicked people and God tries to demonstrate to the prophet that he feels compassion even for Israel’s enemies. 4Chs
Author: Jonah
*The Jonah of 2K14:25 was like Jonah of 1:1 “son of Amittai’
*Jesus considered Jonah as a real person (Mt12:39-41; 16:4 Lk11:29-32)
* The book is presented as history, with actual people and place-names given.
_although the book is actually a book about Jonah and someone else may have done the writing. Jonah is rightfully considered its author since he alone would have had knowledge of all the events recorded
Date and Location: T he language of 2K14:25 suggest that Jonah was a contemporary of Jeroboam II and events reported in his book were most likely recorded soon after they occur (7953)
Recipients: All Israelites
Purpose:
*Jonah was nationalistic but God wants him to see that God’s compassion extends to non-Israelites as well (4:1 1)
*God wanted to show him that compassion for sinners was more important than prosperity
*Jonah was selfish on individual level as well. If he could control events, at least his shade (4:5-10). God sought here as well to counter Jonah’s attitude of control and anger.
Unique Features:
*Except for 3:4, the book of Jonah is actually about his ministry than his actual prophecy
*Like Jonah, Habakkuk, consist largely of a dialogue between God and his prophet
Comparison:
Ac
*missionary to call to reach Gentiles and both had Joppa connection: Jonah (1) and Peter (Ac10)
Abbreviations: Jon./ Jnh./ Jona
MV: Servant of God, 1P2:16
Bib1Yr: Jn21 Ac1The Last Day
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