Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
Jonah Runs From Yahweh
II. Labor & Lesson In
Nineveh
Prays to
Preaches for
Yahweh
Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev.
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer
Preaches & God
Over from
from in
Lot
board The Fish in
Repent
Yhwh Yhwh’s
Nineveh
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10
Learns From
Yahweh
Angry Qs On
at
Plants &
Mercy People
4.1 - 5 6 - 11
Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
Jonah Runs From Yahweh
II. Labor & Lesson In
Nineveh
Prays to Preaches for
Learns From
Yahweh
Yahweh
Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev. Angry Qs On
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer
Preaches & God at
Plants &
Over from
from in
Lot
board The Fish in
Repent Mercy People
Yhwh Yah’s
Nineveh
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11
1.1
2.1 Poetry - 2.10
4.11
Prose Narrative
Prose
Narrative
Prayer
2.2 9
Genre - Literary Type & Genre.
1. Prose Narrative Dominates, Carries Entire Story. 1.1-2.1; 2.10-4.11
• Prayer in Poetic Form, (2.2-9) Stands Out by Literary Contrast.
Story could perhaps proceed from 2.1, 2.10 w/o loss?
2. Genre of Chapter 2 Prayer? Sounds Like Prayers Promising to Pay
Vows. cf. Ps 116 and 69.1-3.
Other than confession of sin (cf. Ps. 25; 38; 39; 51; 130)
Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
II. Labor & Lesson In
Nineveh
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to
Yahweh
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer fr.
Overb The Fish
fr.
in
Lot
vs
oard
Yah.
Yah’s
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10
1.
C. Preaches
for Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev.
Preaches & God
in
Repent
Nineveh
3.1 - 5 6 - 10
Recurrence of Jonah’s Call
1.1-3a
Orders “Arise, Go”
Destination “Nineveh”
Message “Cry Against”
Response Jonah Flees
=
=
=
But
D. Learns D.
From Yahweh
Angry Qss. On
at
Plants &
Mercy People
4.1 - 5 6 - 11
3.1-3a
Nearly
“Arise, Go…” Verbatim
Rep. With
“Nineveh”
Obvious
Contrast
“Proclaim”
Jonah Goes As Commanded
Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
II. Labor & Lesson In
Nineveh
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to
Yahweh
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer
Overb from
from in
Lot
oard The Fish
Yhwh Yah’s
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10
1.
C. Preaches
for Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev.
Preaches & God
in
Repent
Nineveh
3.1 - 5 6 - 10
D. Learns D.
From Yahweh
Angry Qss. On
at
Plants &
Mercy People
4.1 - 5 6 - 11
Recurrence of Jonah’s Call
Interpretive Questions:
1 What is involved in the obvious repetitions and similarities and in
the striking contrast at the point of Jonah’s response? (D)
2 What do these similarities and this contrast mean?
3 Why are these matters thus repeated and why the clear contrast?
Why does Jonah flee and then obey?
4 What are the full implications of these things?
Strategic Passage(s): 1.3 & 3.3 where the contrast is pitched.
Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to
Yahweh
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer fr.
Overb The Fish
fr.
in
Lot
oard
Yah.
Yah’s
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10
2.
Cruciality (Pivot) 3.10
II. Labor & Lesson In
Nineveh
C. Preaches
for Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev.
Preaches & God
in
Repent
Nineveh
3.1 - 5 6 - 10
D. Learns D.
From Yahweh
Angry Qss. On
at
Plants &
Mercy People
4.1 - 5 6 - 11
Story radically reversed at 3.10. No previous indication of rescue explicit.
Destruction presumed. This assumption reversed at 3.10 when God
“sees”, “repents” and “does not do.”
•Causes for the change include: - God’s Action and Attitude
- Nineveh’s Response
- Jonah’s Actions
With emphasis on God’s role.
Strategic Passage: 3.10 the point of clear reversal and exp. of major cause.
Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to
Yahweh
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer fr.
Overb The Fish
fr.
in
Lot
oard
Yah.
Yah’s
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10
2.
Cruciality at 3.10
II. Labor & Lesson In
Nineveh
C. Preaches
for Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev.
Preaches & God
in
Repent
Nineveh
3.1 - 5 6 - 10
D. Learns D.
From Yahweh
Angry Qss. On
at
Plants &
Mercy People
4.1 - 5 6 - 11
Interpretive Questions:
1. What is involved in those events concerned with the judgment of
Nineveh on the one hand and her salvation on the other? In the crux
passage itself?
2. What is the meaning of the major elements involved, e.g., “turn from evil
way,” “repent/relent of evil”?
3. What is the meaning of the causes and results involved in this pivot?
4. Why does the narrative pivot on Yahweh’s “repentance”?
5. What is implied by these matters?
Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
Actions of Yahweh & Jonah
A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to
Yahweh
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer fr.
Overb The Fish
fr.
in
Lot
oard
Yah.
Yah’s
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10
3.
II. Labor & Lesson In
Reasons
Nineveh
C. Preaches
for Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev.
Preaches & God
in
Repent
Nineveh
3.1 - 5 6 - 10
Substantiation (Effect-Cause)
1.1-4.1
Effects The Actions of Jonah
& Yahweh
D. for
Learns D.
From
Yahweh
Actions
Angry Qss. On
at
Plants &
Mercy People
4.1 - 5 6 - 11
4.2-11
Causes - The Character,
Attitudes Which Account
for, Produce, Explain
These Actions.
Strategic Passage 4.2, Where the core explanation appears.
Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to
Yahweh
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer fr.
Overb The Fish
fr.
in
Lot
oard
Yah.
Yah’s
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10
3.
II. Labor & Lesson In
Nineveh
C. Preaches
for Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev.
Preaches & God
in
Repent
Nineveh
3.1 - 5 6 - 10
D. Learns D.
From Yahweh
Angry Qss. On
at
Plants &
Mercy People
4.1 - 5 6 - 11
Substantiation 4.2
Interpretive Questions:
1 What is involved in the actions of Yahweh and of Jonah (effects)
and in the causes that produced them as told in 4.2ff.?
2 What is the meaning of the major elements involved in these
causes & effects ?
3 Why are the actions of Yahweh and Jonah explained by ref. to
their inner life - what Jonah knew about Yahweh’s character?
4 Full implications?
Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
II. Labor & Lesson In
Nineveh
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to
Yahweh
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer fr.
Overb The Fish
fr.
in
Lot
oard
Yah.
Yah’s
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10
C. Preaches
for Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev.
Preaches & God
in
Repent
Nineveh
3.1 - 5 6 - 10
4. Recurring Themes & Vocabulary
1 Action of Yahweh in Creation.
1.4 (hurled), (9), (appointed);
1:17; 4:6 (appt), 7 (appt),
8(appt), 9, 10, 11
2 Mercy of Yahweh.
1.14-17; 2.9-10; 3.10; 4.2-11
3 Prayer, Fast, Offering, Etc.
1.14, 6; 2.1-9; 3.8-10?; 4.2ff.
D. Learns D.
From Yahweh
Angry Qss. On
at
Plants &
Mercy People
4.1 - 5 6 - 11
4 Vocabulary
“Appoint” - 1:17;4:6, 7, 8
“Great” 1.2,42, 10, 12,16; 2.1;
3.2; 4.1, 6, 11
“Evil” 1.2, 7, 8; 3.8, 102; 4.1, 6,
“Call” 1.7, 6, 14; 2.3; 3.2, 4, 5, 8
Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to
Yahweh
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer fr.
Overb The Fish
fr.
in
Lot
oard
Yah.
Yah’s
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10
II. Labor & Lesson In 4.10-11
Nineveh
C. Preaches
for Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev.
Preaches & God
in
Repent
Nineveh
3.1 - 5 6 - 10
D. Learns D.
From Yahweh
Angry Qss. On
at
Plants &
Mercy People
4.1 - 5 6 - 11
5. Climax at 4.10-11
of the Merciful Acts of Yahweh (in contr. to Jonah)
in Response to and in interaction with persons
(often involving nature)
With Interrogation! as response to Yahweh’s question
falls into hands of reader as well as Jonah.
Strategic Passage: 4.10-11
Where theme reaches final most poignant expression.
Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God
I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh
A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to
Yahweh
Flight Asleep Jonah’s Jonah Prayer fr.
Over The Fish
fr.
in
Lot
board
Yah.
Yah’s
Storm
1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10
II. Labor & Lesson In 4.10-11
Nineveh
C. Preaches
for Yahweh
Jonah
Ninev.
Preaches & God
in
Repent
Nineveh
3.1 - 5 6 - 10
D. Learns D.
From Yahweh
Angry Qss. On
at
Plants &
Mercy People
4.1 - 5 6 - 11
E. Climax of the Merciful Acts of Yahweh in Response to and in interaction
with persons (often involving nature) at 4.10-11, With Interrogation!
1.1-2, 4, 9, 15-14, 17; 2.10; 3.1-2, 10; 4.3-4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-11
1 More than non-distinctive causation involved in all narrative. Role of
Yahweh too prominent to dismiss as routine.
2 Theme of mercy/compassion built here.
3 Does not contradict the pivot at 3.10 since scope of mercy much larger than
Nineveh -- Jonah & the mariners.
Strategic Passages: 4.10-11 Where theme reaches final expression.
Jonah Book Survey
5. Other Major Impressions
a. Form of Chapter 2 signif. Does not seem to be either
confession (cf. Ps 51) or repentance (cf. Chap. 3).
Rather = typical song of praise for deliverance with
promise to pay vows (2.9).
Cf. Pss. 22; 61;
66; 116.
b. Genre of Book
1. Straight forward “biographic” narrative?
2. “Historical novel”?
3. Story based on real Prophet?
Jonah Book Survey
Higher Critical Data
a. Centers on Jonah Ben-Amittai. Known elsewhere
from 2 Kings 14.25
• Delivers Pro-Israel, Anti-Assyrian message
under Jeroboam II, 780’s-40’s.
b. Appears to be literary unit, except Ch. 2.
c. Story unaffected by jump from 2.1 to 2.10 but not
necessarily simple “addition.”
If editorial addition, what implication?
d.
“Author” unnamed.
Jonah Book Survey
Higher Critical Data
e. Audience
- Needing emphasis on
- Yahweh’s universal compassion
- Openness to “enemy” & the nations
- Struggles of prophet/prophecy under Yahweh
- Sovereignty of Yahweh & problems of living with
that as Yahweh’s servant?