The pursuit and arrest of him for that disobedience by a storm, in which he was asleep v. Aug 10, 2010 and one of the synagogue readings for yom kippur is the book of jonah in hebrew, sefer yonah. Gods ministry to jonah chapter 4 the bible exposition commentary, cook communications, colorado springs, 2002, p. Jonah was the son of amittai, of gathhepher in zebulun called gittahhepher in jos 19. The book of jonah is more than just a delightful story for children. Aside from portions of the book of jeremiah and daniel, all of the other prophetic books focus primarily on the message of the prophet. Commentary on the book of jonah relevant bible teaching. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The casting of him into the sea, for the stilling of the storm, jonah 1. Top 5 commentaries on the book of jonah by keith mathison. Apart from the book traditionally ascribed to him, jonah is mentioned only. The book of jonah relates how god told jonah to go to the major assyrian city of nineveh and there prophecy that after 40 days it would be overturned.
But who then wrote the book and where do those intimate details of the story come from. The information presented covered context, dating, purpose, and interpretation of jonah. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point 1. The name is usually taken to mean dove, but in view of the complaining words of the prophet, it is not unlikely that the name is derived from the root yanah to mourn, with the signification dolens or complaining. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point, only to be swallowed by a great fish and dumped back at this starting point 2.
Jonah free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. The book of jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. A free bible commentary on the book of jonah in simple english. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonah s character is anything but dovelike. Some of the key truths to emerge from this book are that god calls his people to seek the repentance of the nations.
And one of the synagogue readings for yom kippur is the book of jonah in hebrew, sefer yonah. Jonah chapter 1 coffmans commentary of the new testament. 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. The book of jonah is unique among the books of the prophets. 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. Jonah has been a favorite subject for midrashic commentary.
An easyenglish 2800 word vocabulary commentary on the book of jonah. Jonah signifies a dove, a proper name for all gods prophets. The incidentals in the book of jonah are the fish, the gourd, the east wind, the boat, and even the city of nineveh. The book of jonah is about divine mercy, divine justice, and gods freedom to offer each to whomever he chooseswhether israels oppressive enemy, a rebellious prophet, or gods elect people. The prophecy of jonah to jeroboam conveys some important background material to enhance our understanding of this book. F2 but, of course, such criticisms are apparently founded in ignorance of the truth that, this is a common formulary linking together revelations and histories.
T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. Jonah 1 commentary albert barnes notes on the whole bible. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonahs character is anything but dovelike. Jonah signifies a dove, a proper name for all gods prophets, all his people, who ought to be harmless as doves, and to mourn as doves for the sins and calamities of the land. Although the content of the message is coming judgment 1. Jonah slept in a place where he hoped no one would see him or disturb him. This did not mean, however, that jonah remained the same. The books of joel, obadiah, jonah, and micah the new international commentary on the old testament. All of nature obeys god in this book but a prophet of god does not. However, the book of jonah is presented in a nonhistorical setting.
This meant according to the understanding of jonah that nineveh would be destroyed. The whole commentary was very insightful with its picture of what god is saying in the book of jonah. The style of the book of jonah is distinctive among the prophetic books. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. One could describe kimchis commentary as psychological.
Jonah 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. It is the custom in some communities to ask a stranger to offer a commentary called a dvar torah. David kimchi was an important scholar of hebrew grammar and wrote michlol, an early comprehensive study of it. Determining date and authorship of jonah remains problematic, as explicit references do not exist within the narrative. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them.
Jonah did not want to go on this mission and attempted to flee to tarshish in spain. Top 5 commentaries on the book of jonah ligonier ministries. The book depicts the larger scope of gods purpose for israel. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. Best commentaries and books on jonah logos bible software. The witness of jonah max reich the messianic hope of israel. Jonah was commanded by god to give warning to the city of nineveh capital of assyria so that people may repent. The literary content of the book of jonah begins with the call of the prophet to proclaim the message of yhwh to nineveh in assyria.
God sent jonah to preach to nineveh, the capital city of israels prime enemy, assyria. You will also find options for commentaries on jonah that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more. There are a number of helpful commentaries on jonah, and the following are five of the best. The books of joel, obadiah, jonah, and micah the new international commentary on the old testament allen, leslie c. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Jonah 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary by albert barnes, a dedicated student of the bible, continues to be very popular even today. I am currently writing commentary on the book of jonah. Jonah said he feared the lord and was honest about his story jonah allowed himself to be cast into the sea jonah called out to god during the three days and three nights in the belly of the fish jonah 2. 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. Their wickedness, as that of nineveh, is a bold and open affront to god. While there are a few chapters that are tangential to these two poles of martins focus, the work as a whole is deeply enlightening, thought provoking, and. 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. Hugh martins commentary on jonah is a devotional commentary that not only meditates deeply on jonah the prophet, but also on how jonah is a type, parallel, and sign pointing to christ.
The books of joel, obadiah, jonah, and micah the new. The book is replete with irony, wherein much of its humor lies. But it displeased jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. In any case, from its style it is quite clear that the book of jonah was written centuries later. The discovery of him, and his disobedience, to be the cause of the storm v. It is the custom in some communities to ask a stranger to offer a commentarycalled a dvar torah. This makes jonah one of the few prophets who hailed from the northern kingdom of israel.
You can find the best commentary on jonah for you using the tools on the right side. He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. Every chapter stepped through each verse of the book and provided a clear presentation of various view points throughout history as well as the authors own. He quotes his father in his commentary to the book of jonah. The holiest day in the jewish calendar is yom kippur, the day of atonement, with its theme of repentance. Jonah 2 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole.
But the book of jonah is not meant to be a historical account. During jonahs years as a prophet, israel stood tall. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a. We left jonah in the belly of the fish, and had reason to think we should hear no more of him, that if he were not destroyed by the waters of the sea he would be consumed in the bowels of that leviathan, out of whose mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire, and whose breath kindles coals, job. Jonah 2 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. 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. Jonahs experiences form the main contents and purpose of the book. Jonahs reluctance to bring that message mirrors the israelites equally stubborn disinterest in the relation of the assyrians to god. Jonah s experiences form the main contents and purpose of the book. Passing over the brief prophecy of obadiah, with its veiled reference to the messiah in saviours who will go up on mount zion, under the leadership of the jehovahsaviour, for the kingdom shall be the lords obadiah 1. Sleeping christians stay away from the work of the lord jonah slept while there was a prayer meeting up on the deck.
Consequently, scholars must consider linguistic and historical factors to approximate such information. 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. When he was in trouble, under the tokens of gods displeasure against him for sin. Jonah is the only narrative included in the books of the minor prophets.
Obadiah, jonah, micah tyndale old testament commentary by t. As the sections are completed, this is where they will get posted. Minor prophets study guide questionslessons learned. In this commentary on the prophet jonah, the author will take the reader on a tour of the historical background, the main characters and their role, the main argument, the main purpose, and an in depth view of the book. The book of jonah, therefore, is a statement made through the wonderful medium of the story of jonah of gods compassion even of a pagan people like the ninevites who were enemies of the jews. The discovery of him, and his disobedience, to be the cause of the storm, jonah 1. The only reference to jonah in a historical context is found in 2 kings 14. Rather, it is something like a theological short story. Aside from portions of the book of jeremiah and daniel, all of the other.
Jonah 2 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. The main theme of the book of jonah is gods sovereignty over all people and his divine plan to extend his gift of mercy and salvation beyond israel to include the gentile nations. The only prophetic message that jonah announced was the one about the coming judgment over nineveh jonah 1. His making use of us is an evidence of his being at peace with us. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of jonah in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Best jonah commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. The disobedience of the prophet jonah s missionary call.
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. Sleeping christians like to hide out among the church jonah slept in a place where he could not help with the work that needed to be done. The honour god put upon jonah, in giving him a commission to go and prophesy against nineveh. As the grace commentary on jonah is written, posts will be added to the chapters below. In the new testament, no other old testament prophet is named by jesus more than the prophet jonah. He examines jonahs inner process, telling us what jonah must have. Many critics however want to lower the book of jonah to an allegory, a parable or a legend because of the miracles described in it especially the appearing of the great fish devouring jonah.
Nov 11, 2012 but god is not finished with jonah, as 1. Apocalypse explained ae 538 11 particulars in the book of jonah are historical, and yet prophetical, involving and representing such arcana, as do all the other historicals of the word. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. The pursuit and arrest of him for that disobedience by a storm, in which he was asleep, jonah 1. 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. It is the custom in some communities to ask a stranger to offer a commentarycalled a dvar torahon that text. The book contains fascination interaction between men and god, which sasson brings out well.
It tells the story of god commanding the prophet jonah to preach in nineveh, but jonah. We are told, for example, that the great fish that swallowed jonah was specially created for this occasion when god created the world. Conservative scholars place the writing of the book of jonah before 745. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. We read nowhere in the book that jonah confessed his sin and received a new heart. God delights in showing mercy to repentant gentiles.
Jonah therefore is the only prophet of the ot revealing the grace of god towards the heathen. David guzik commentary on jonah 1, where jonah receives a call from god, but decides to run from him, which god prevents by sending a storm. Since jonah prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii 782753 b. 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. This was strange, because usually the preacher is pleased when the congregation repents, but jonah wasnt. Ac 1188 2 but then we find a startling, thoughtprovoking passage in. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. Jonah is perhaps one of the least understood books of the bible, with most people unable to get by the whale actually, dag gadol, or great fish. Verse 1 now the word of jehovah came unto jonah the son of amittai, saying, now enemies of this book do not hesitate to take the ax to the very first word in it, affirming that, jonah is a fragment, the continuation of a larger work. The book of jonah is the most beautiful story ever written in so small a compass, only 28 english words. Outside the book jonah is mentioned only in 2 kings 14. The essentials here are jehovah and jonah god and manthat is what the book is all about.