Jonah -- Introduction

Jonah Unlike the other prophetic books, Jonah takes the form of a story. The only other reference to a prophet Jonah is in 2 Kings 14:25. If this is the same Jonah as the central character in the book of Jonah, then it may have been written in the 7^th century BC. Some Biblical scholars date it in the 5^th Century. The book of Jonah is viewed by many as an extended parable that carries a key message: God’s concern extends beyond Israel to the whole world. This theological concept was not fully developed in ancient Israel and would have been somewhat unique in either the 7^th or the 5^th Century. Tradition identifies the prophet Jonah and the main character in the book as the author, but many places in the text itself would suggest a writer after Jonah’s time; possibly the book endured some editorial revisions after it was written.

Jonah can be outlined as follows:

·         Jonah 1:1-16                Jonah’s flight by ship

·         Jonah 1:17-2:10           In the belly of the fish

·         Jonah 3:1-10                The conversion of Nineveh

·         Jonah 4:1-11                Jonah’s conversation with God

Key learning: God’s concern extends beyond Israel to the whole world.