TTBE – 517 – Fall 2014 – Bob Mancini – Scripture Interpret 07 – Bookchart3 – Jonah – Main character: Jonah Son of Amittai OT prophet From Gath-hepher Some consider Jonah the author Commanded to preach because of Ninevah’s activities Some believe this as an historical recount; others view as a parable. Jonah’s Disobedience (vs 1:1-1:17) Command “Arise, go to Nineveh” vs1-2 Jonah fled to Tarshish vs3 Found a ship in Joppa; paid the fare vs3 “The Lord hurled a great wind” vs4 “the sailors became afraid” vs5 Jonah went below and fell asleep vs5 Cast lots to see who caused calamity. The lot fell on Jonah. vs8 Jonah told them he was a Hebrew and that the Lord was his God. They were afraid. vs8-9 Discussion of what should be done to calm the sea. Jonah told them to throw him overboard. vs The sea stopped raging and the men feared the Lord vs15-16 The Lord sent a great fish to swallow Jonah and keep him for three days/nights. vs17 Jonah’s Prayer (vs 2:1-2:10) Jonah prayed to the Lord. vs1, 7 He heard Jonah’s voice from the depth of Sheol, the deep, the heart of the seas, expelled from sight, water encompassed, great deep engulfed me, weeds wrapped around head. Roots of the mountains. vs2-5 He answered Jonah. vs2, 6, 10 Jonah will sacrifice, be thankful, & fulfill his vow to the Lord. vs7-9 The Lord commanded the fish; Jonah was put onto dry land. vs10 Nineveh Repents (vs 3:1-3:10) Word of the Lord came to Jonah. vs1 Definition of a prophet. Go to Nineveh and make a proclamation. vs2 Command of the Lord. Jonah went. vs3 Jonah proclaimed that in 40 days, Nineveh would be overthrown. vs4 Parallels to the Israelites’ 40 years in the dessert and Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. Nineveh repented – including the king. vs5-7 The king proclaimed that all should repent, fast, and be covered with sackcloth – hoping that God would not overthrow the kingdom. vs7-9 When God saw that Nineveh repented, He relented. vs10 Jonah’s Displeasure Rebuked (vs 4:1-4:11) Jonah became displeased/angry that the Lord spared Nineveh. vs1 Jonah knew this would happen. He was so upset that I wanted the Lord to take his life. vs2-3, 8, 9 Attributes of God: gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abundant lovingkindness, relents. vs 2 The Lord answered Jonah asking if he had reason to be angry. vs4, 9-10 Interesting response – Jonah left town without a word. He made a shelter outside of town; he waited to see what would happen. vs5 God grew a plant to shade Jonah, but appointed a worm to attack the plant and a scorching sun/wind to make Jonah uncomfortable. vs6-8 God asked Jonah why he had compassion for the plant (that did nothing) and why God shouldn’t have compassion for the 120,000 Ninevites who didn’t know better until God sent His messenger. vs Purpose for writing Jonah’s actions Return to “holy temple” Nineveh listens Jonah scolded & the Lord’s response 1 The disobedience led to Jonah’s repentance From next page Headings from NASB From next page The preaching led to Ninevah’s repentance Ninevah’s repentance led to Jonah’s displeasure Jonah’s credentials as a prophet of the God of Israel Messianic prophesies Purpose: A proclamation of the Lord’s desire for all to repent; a warning to all who disobey the Lord’s commands; parallels to the coming Messiah (Messianic prophesies) Jonah the son of Amittai from Gath-hepher Jonah says this is why I fled… I knew you’d relent…

2 Kings reference: 2 Kings 14:25 He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher. Matthew references: Matthew 12:39-41 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Matthew 16:4 - An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away. Luke references: Luke 11:29-32 "The Sign of Jonah“ As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Other notes/questions: Believed to be written around the 8 th Century BC Messianic parallels: Comparison of Jonah to Jesus as “the sign” Comparison of Jonah in the fish and Jesus in the tomb for 3 days 40 days until destruction Comparison of the sign – Ninevites repented vs. “this generation” What’s the meaning of the men “will stand up… at the judgment”? “evil and adulterous” – were the Ninevites as bad as “this generation”? Interesting that the Lord grew a plant to shade Jonah, then took it away. Need to dig deeper on this. What does it mean, that the Ninevites “did not know the difference between their right and left hand”? More study needed. Who was Jonah? Three days in the tomb Nineveh’s sign/repent Nineveh’s sign/repent 2 See previous page Jonah’s credentials as a prophet of the God of Israel See previous page Jonah the son of Amittai from Gath-hepher Purpose: A proclamation of the Lord’s desire for all to repent; a warning to all who disobey the Lord’s commands; parallels to the coming Messiah (Messianic prophesies) TTBE – 517 – Fall 2014 – Bob Mancini – Scripture Interpret 07 – Bookchart3 – Jonah – Messianic prophesies