Ancient nineveh background bible study bible history. When studying scripture, it is critical to gain understanding of the historical background and cultural setting of the book or passage being. The kingdom of assyria and of the assyrians is referred to in the old testament as connected with the jews at a very early period, as in nu 24. Because the book of amos is a prophetic book and not an ancient history, such as ones that were written by the likes of herodotus and thucydides, it contains little recorded history to examine as a background for its events. At times, an unwillingness to accept the possibility of miraculous occurrences the fish, the plant may be central to denying historicity, at other times it is a matter of literary genre 39. For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the lord, because he had told them. Mar 11, 2008 historical background on the book of jonah. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. Title following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text mt, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah meaning dove, the son of amittai. The supposed legendary character of some of the events e. Jonah was a prophet of the lord and he was called to deliver a message of repentance to the city of nineveh which was the capital of the assyrian empire. Jonah is the only minor prophet ever to be mentioned by jesus christ.
Historical background to jonah november 21, 2012 by jeremy myers 5 comments when studying scripture, it is critical to gain understanding of the historical background and cultural setting of the book or passage being studied. Date and historical situation for additional details. The events recorded in the book must have taken place prior to 612, when nineveh was destroyed. The book of jonah in the context of postexilic theology. Jonah 1 background information with maps and images picture. Background to the book of jonah sermon by johnny a. It is incredible that one could be alive for three days in a fishs belly. Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, why hast thou done this. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. A background study russ reaves immanuel baptist church. Jonahs ministry, at least according to the book of 2 kings 14. Most of the classical prophetic writings were a historic collection of sermons during turbulent times in israels history with a message to the. It is an important book to both religious traditions christianity and jewish because of its message of doom upon israels longtime enemy. A brief introduction to jonah jonah public domain audiobook at librivox various versions.
The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name the prophet as the author of his own account, but we have no reason to doubt either the inspiration or the historical veracity of the book. Unlike other prophetic books in the old testament, the book of jonah is not a record of jonahs prophecies but a narrative about the prophets experiences. Other than the mention of nineveh and of jonah, the contents offer little help in relating the book to its background. Title following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text mt, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah meaning dove, the son of amittai 1. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible.
The historic messages were collected and arranged in book form thereby being intended for later generations of israel and of those until gods. Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical. Following information from the minor prophets jonah by al maxey. Nov 21, 2012 historical background to jonah november 21, 2012 by jeremy myers 5 comments when studying scripture, it is critical to gain understanding of the historical background and cultural setting of the book or passage being studied. Historical and cultural background for jonah preaching source. Mar 16, 2019 written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. 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. Although the author of jonah is never identified in the book itself, jonah himself has traditionally been identified as the author.
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. The account contains details that appear to be exaggerations, which has raised questions for some readers about how much of the book is historical. This book also shows gods foreign mission program was in existence centuries prior to the great commission of matt. The church has not made any definitive pronouncement on the literal meaning of the book. However, during this time they were suffering from internal civil unrest, plague, famine, and what was viewed as a very evil omen an eclipse in midjune of 763 b. Phyllis trible examines rhetorical criticism as a discipline within biblical studies. Macdonald, only chapter 2, jonahs very personal psalm from the belly of the great fish, is in the first person. The lord called jonah to go to the great assyrian city of nineveh to pronounce judgment on it. Unlike other prophetic books in the old testament, the book of jonah is not a record of jonah s prophecies but a narrative about the prophets experiences. What is the historical context of the book of jonah. Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society.
Context, method, and the book of jonah, she surveys the historical antecedents of the method from ancient times to the postmodern era. Book of jonah, also spelled jonas, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names. Ancient nineveh background bible study bible history online. The historical background which the book of jonah presents is seen to be utterly authentic, and even the creature not a whale that swallowed jonah is known from the archaeological record. The book is ascribed to malachi, whose name means my messenger. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. The distinctive nature of the book of jonah is revealed in several ways. Ironically, the book of jonah is filled with irony, parody and exaggeration that are often overlooked by many interpreters. Therefore, when the title was assigned to it, it may have intended that the book was written by jonah or that the book is about jonah. Technically, the book of jonah is anonymous, however jewish tradition holds that the author is jonah himself. Concern for the salvation of all people, including ones enemies, is the proper attitude for people of god.
Historical background of the book of micah along with a great influx of wealth into the israelite society during micahs time, came an increasing number of social evils. Best jonah commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. The details of the book appear to be historical data. Apr 09, 2015 this was step 2 of an inductive bible study seminar based on the book of jonah, that we conducted at the university of the nations in kona, hawaii on 27 feb 2015. Both the septuagint and the latin vulgate ascribe the same name. This was a time of expansion, which was in process for nearly two generations. Book of jonah historical background dan symonds youtube. Rather than being a series of oracles of the prophet, this book tells of an episode in the prophets life. This was a time when assyria was not a threat to israel. Thus, there has not been any clear, official affirmation that jonah was indeed a historical figure, or that, if he was, the events described in the book of jonah actually happened as described. It is chiefly a book about a prophet instead of being a collection of oracles of the prophet. Book of jonah, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, embraced in a single book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the jewish tanakh.
The book of jonah has been attacked by the destructive critics. Modern students of the bible, observing the historical and geographical background of the book, know that jonah is a parable, as fictitious a composition as the prodigal son or the good samaritan. Jun 15, 2016 historical context critical to understanding the story of jonah the prophet and his dramatic mission to the assyrian capital of nineveh in the 6th century bce. Historical background to jonah the grace commentary. Certainly, god desired jonah to proclaim a message to nineveh in the hopes that they would turn from their wicked ways. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man. The book of jonah intro to jonah biblica the international bible. Jonah is read every year by the jews on the day of atonement yom kippur. In his article, he attacked the book of jonah by stating. The man jonah was the main character of the book, he was the son of amittai jonah 1. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of jonah in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork.
If so, micah came from a little town not far from jerusalem 25 miles sw of jerusalem near the philistine city of gath heater writes, isaiah was apparently a more urbane prophet, personally acquainted with kings and leaders. Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of god during the reign of king jeroboam ii of israel 2 kings 14. As jonah was three days and three nights in the whales belly, so shall the son of man be three. The view has been supported by appeal to the prechristian greek translation of the ot the septuagint, which. The reader will mark that our lord referred to the miraculous preservation of jonah, and his deliverance, as a historical event, recorded in the first and second chapters of the book of jonah, not as a myth or allegory, but as a historical fact. Jonah s ministry, at least according to the book of 2 kings 14. In more recent years it has come to be believed that the book is about jonah rather than by him.
Since jonah was a contemporary of amos, see introduction to amos. A quasipeace pervaded over the smaller regional nations, which in some respects is much like postwar america. Intro to malachi biblica the international bible society. Historical context critical to understanding the story of jonah the prophet and his dramatic mission to the assyrian capital of nineveh in the 6th. Accompanying the loss of morals came a warped view of god.
One other obvious hyperbolic element in the book is the repentance of animals together with the ninevites, which influenced a number of scholars to challenge the historical level of the book. The story has a long interpretive history and has become well known through popular childrens stories. Jonah 1 background information with maps and images. Cultural and historical considerations are especially important for preaching the book of jonah since geography and assyrian culture play a. The story of the prophet jonah is recorded in the book of jonah, which is part of the bible, and is read in the synagogue every year on the day of atonement. Anyone studying jonah should read this book first, for all other treatments of jonah will come to be judged by it. The book of jonah is an amazing story about gods willingness to respond favorable to any and all who are willing to repent of their sins and turn to him. 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. The author, micah, was of the town called moresheth which may be the same town mentioned in 1. The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name. Nov 21, 2012 although the book of jonah is not about world missions, the theme of gods mission to the world is definitely present in the book. The issue is complicated somewhat by the use of the.
It is one of trei asar the twelve prophets in the tanakh, and in christian tradition as oi dodeka prophetai or ton dodekapropheton, greek for the twelve prophets. Book of jonah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. Jonah prophesied during the peaceful and prosperous time of jeroboam ii 2 kings 14. One of the greatest prophets during the time of jeroboam ii was jonah the son of amitai, who, as a prophet disciple, had anointed jehu and who, therefore, enjoyed the kings benevolence. Obadiah, jonah, micah tyndale old testament commentary by t. Along with a great influx of wealth into the israelite society during micahs time, came an increasing number of social evils.
Some have encountered major themes in the book that does not relate to jonahs 8th century bce context but beyond his time. The critics, though certain of almost all of their objections to the bible, have not all decided whether it is based on history, or is a nature myth. Professor settle listed several alleged inaccuracies contained in the book. Finally, the book of jonah vividly demonstrates that out of all gods vast and. Here it is not the external historical surroundings which concern us. Although some contend this book is a fable and that. Macdonald, only chapter 2, jonah s very personal psalm from the belly of the great fish, is in the first person. Outlines of the book vary, but there are several obvious transitions in the book which center on a. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. If it is assumed that jonah intends to be a historical account, then certainly much of its content must 1 scholars vary on the specific dates. In the case of the book of jonah the historical background must be considered from a point of view different from that of the prophetical books in the stricter sense. He is also the only ot figure that jesus himself likens unto himself matthew 12.
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