Scripture
Read or listen to Jonah 1-4
Video
Questions
What makes the scroll of Jonah unique among the prophetic books of the Old Testament?1
How is the scroll of Jonah structured in terms of its literary design?2
What literary styles does the scroll of Jonah employ?3
Why does Jonah initially flee from God's command to go to Nineveh?
How do the pagan sailors in the story contrast with Jonah's character?
What is ironic about Jonah's statement to the sailors about God creating the sea and dry land?4
How many words is Jonah's sermon to Nineveh in Hebrew, and what is unusual about its content? Are there similar sermons in the NT?5
What dual meaning does the word "overturned" have in the context of Jonah's prophecy to Nineveh?6
Why does Jonah become angry with God after Nineveh repents?
What is the significance of the vine and worm incident at the end of the story?
The scroll of Jonah focuses on the story of the prophet rather than his words.
The scroll has a symmetrical design. Chapters 1 and 3 describe Jonah's encounters with non-Israelites, while chapters 2 and 4 contain Jonah's prayers.
Satire. It uses humor and irony to critique character flaws.
Jonah's statement about God creating the sea and dry land is ironic because he's trying to run from this God by getting on a boat.
Jonah's sermon to Nineveh is five words in Hebrew. There is no mention of the Ninevites' wrongdoings. In the NT John the Baptist preached “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!” [Matthew 3:2] which is seven words in the Greek [Μετανοεῖτε, ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν].
The word "overturned" mean being “destroyed” or “transformed”. Nineveh is "overturned" by being “transformed” through repentance rather than “destroyed”.