Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of god during the reign of king jeroboam ii of israel 2 kings 14. When studying scripture, it is critical to gain understanding of the historical background and cultural setting of the book or passage being studied. It is therefore extremely helpful that zondervan publications has put out a commentary on the books of jonah, nahum, habakkuk, zephaniah in the niv application commentary series. The size of nineveh is throughout the book brought into prominent notice. The honour god put upon jonah, in giving him a commission to go and prophesy against nineveh. Full text of fifth book of lessons, for the use of schools see other formats.
He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. The lord jesus used jonah as a sign of his death, burial, and resurrection matt. Lessings scholarly expertise and decades of service as a seminary professor and pastor are evident as he meticulously expounds the text, historical setting, theology, christology, and pastoral applications of the fifth gospel. This is because the story is not very favourable towards jonah. The most useful method would be to go to the section of scripture that you are interested in, and selecting the button for a complete list of all commentaries and resources related to that scripture. The pursuit and arrest of him for that disobedience by a storm, in which he was asleep, jonah 1.
Jonah 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. Jonah 1 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 book is replete with irony, wherein much of its humor lies. One could describe kimchis commentary as psychological. Commentary on the bible story of jonah deliverance. The book of jonah tells the story of a hebrew prophet named jonah ben amittai.
Their wickedness, as that of nineveh, is a bold and open affront to god. During this time, an important event happened to israel. 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. Full text of seventhday adventist bible commentary 1978. The story of a fish swallowing a man and the man living sounds impossible, and since most liberal scholars deny the possibility of the supernatural, they reject the book of jonah as anything but a fairy tale. The structure of this chapter forms a chiasm with 1. David pawson unlocking the bible jonah on 2nd august, 2014 duration. May 31, 2004 for many these books run contrary to that of our own current cultural trends. He quotes his father in his commentary to the book of jonah.
No writer in the bible tells such a bad story about himself. Daily discipleship guide csb is designed to cultivate a deeper understanding of scripture through daily bible reading. Jonah is one of the most striking examples of a heart in need of expansion. 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. Best jonah commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. Jonah, whose name means dove, prophesied in the time of jeroboam ii, king of israel 793753 bc 2 kgs 14. 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. 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. The commentarys focus is on the one greater than jonah. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. He quotes short fragments from various psalms, and adapts them to meet his own case. An easyenglish 2800 word vocabulary commentary on the book of jonah.
Now he obeys and goes to nineveh, the capital of israels ancient enemy. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading jonah, nahum, habukkuk, zephaniah the expositors bible commentary. 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. 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. However, we do not feel this is the best method for using the blue letter bible. Jonahs experiences form the main contents and purpose of the book. This commentary is wellknown and respected in both popular and scholarly circles. The book of jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. Jonah, nahum, habukkuk, zephaniah the expositors bible commentary kindle edition by walton, john h. Introduction jonah is one of the most ridiculed books by liberal scholars.
Study guide on the book of jonah, on line bible commentary for book of jonah, niv commentary jonah, free jonah commentary. So if you are interested in studying jonah, bookmark this page, and check back soon. A discourse analysis of the hebrew bible zondervan exegetical commentary on the old testament by kevin j. 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. He examines jonahs inner process, telling us what jonah must have. One can only place jonah in the category of fables if one starts out with the prejudice that miracles, such as described in this story, are impossible. It is probable he had been before acquainted with the word of the lord, and knew his voice from that of a stranger. Instead of studying beforehand, participants attend the group, learn from the material and discussion, and then build on that using five daily directed bible. He goes to joppa and boards a ship bound for tarshish. Commentary on the book of jonah relevant bible teaching. The prophecy of jonah to jeroboam conveys some important background material to enhance our understanding of this book. This summary of the book of jonah provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of jonah.
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. This commentary has been through advanced theological checking. Jione havea analyses the book of jonah through the lens of climate change, using this present situation to reconsider the significance of jonah for contemporary struggles and contexts, and tapping into traditional practices of commentary to draw out the meaning of the biblical text. Jonah originated from gadhefer, a little city in the area of zebulon, a few miles from the border with issachar. Yonah is a strange prophet, and sefer yonah the book of jonah a strange book. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. Jonah therefore is the only prophet of the ot revealing the grace of god towards the heathen. Aside from portions of the book of jeremiah and daniel, all of the other prophetic books focus primarily on the message of the prophet. As the sections are completed, this is where they will get posted. Now the word of the lord an impulse or revelation from the lord, significative of his will. Commentary on the book of jonah by matthew henry old. The bible knowledge commentary adds some thoughts here. The disobedience of the prophet jonah s missionary call.
The book of jonah is unique among the books of the prophets. The style of the book of jonah is distinctive among the prophetic books. 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. The book is named after its principal character, whose name means dove. Jonah, nahum, habukkuk, zephaniah the expositors bible. The prophet jonah a dove is already mentioned in 2 kings 14. I am currently writing commentary on the book of jonah. Jonah, whose name means dove, lived in gathhepher, located. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. God calls jonah to proclaim judgment to nineveh, but jonah resists and attempts to flee so he doesnt have to complete his holy mission.
Apr 12, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. 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. A command given to jonah to preach at nineveh, jonah 1. Arise, go to nineveh, that great city the capital of the assyrian empire. The book of jonah is short, but its brevity does nothing to reduce the significance of the theological questions it raises. The bible is full of men and women who, despite their best efforts, suffer from a chronic lack of love. Unfortunately, our memories do not always serve us well. But god brings his people through fire, and through water. Jonah 1 commentary albert barnes notes on the whole bible. When he was in trouble, under the tokens of gods displeasure against him for sin.
This old testament book describes at least part of the ministry of a prophet called jonah, the only prophet who attempted to run away from god. David kimchi was an important scholar of hebrew grammar and wrote michlol, an early comprehensive study of it. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. The book is named after its principal character, jonah, heb. It concerns a disobedient prophet who rejected his divine commission, was cast overboard in a storm and swallowed by a great fish, rescued in a marvelous manner, and returned to his starting point. Full text of fifth book of lessons, for the use of schools. 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. In phillip carys 2008 commentary on jonah, he shows that those who have the courage and humility to let jonah s story confront them will be challenged to deepen their understanding of gods mercy and wrestle once again with the meaning of the. The prophet jonah lived during the reign of jeroboam ii over the northern kingdom of israel. The most difficult and troubling passages often open their meaning and significance in. In 2 kings 14 we also read that he was a servant of god and a. 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. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. Jonah was a prophet in the land of israel about 800750 bc. There are still many jonahs in this generation, and this message is to enable us learn from the lessons from the bible story of jonah. The theme of repentance nominates it for being read on yom kippur, but it has less to say. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point 1. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonahs character is anything but dovelike. He was the son of amittai and was of gathhepher in galilee north of nazareth. There are allusions, in his prayer, to the great messianic psalms 22, 69 and 16. Most striking of all is the application of psalm 16.
The only prophetic message that jonah announced was the one about the coming judgment over nineveh jonah 1. The question remains if miracles in the physical sense of the word occur. Book of jonah lesson 1 welcome to the study of the book of jonah. You can find the best commentary on jonah for you using the tools on the right side. Author the book of jonah makes no direct claim to its authorship, although the author may be jonah himself. Jonah s prophecy about israels boundaries being extended may indicate that he made that prophecy early in jeroboams reign. The discovery of him, and his disobedience, to be the cause of the storm, jonah 1. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonah s character is anything but dovelike. The book of jonah is a subversive story about a rebellious prophet who. As the grace commentary on jonah is written, posts will. The traditions preserved in greek and roman writers dwell on the same feature. Jonah, nahum, habakkuk, zephaniah the niv application. Study jonah using john calvins bible commentary to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. 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.
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