David kimchi was an important scholar of hebrew grammar and wrote michlol, an early comprehensive study of it. Designed for the pastor and bible teacher, the zondervan exegetical commentary on the old testament brings together commentary features rarely gathered together in one volume. The disobedience of the prophet jonah s missionary call. Nov 21, 2012 although the book of jonah is not about world missions, the theme of gods mission to the world is definitely present in the book. The writer of this article has attempted to do this in stades zeitschrift, 1892, pp. The disobedience of the prophet jonahs missionary call.
But who then wrote the book and where do those intimate details of the story come from. 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. Hermeneia a critical and historical commentary on the bible. The complete first book of jonah in hebrew on youtube with extra slow narration and big font size of the masoretic text. 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. The name jonah is derived from the hebrew word yonah meaning dove. He was the son of amittai and was of gathhepher in galilee north of nazareth. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The gloss on jonah relies almost exclusively on jeromes commentary on jonah c. English translation of the entire tanakh tanach with rashis commentary. And one of the synagogue readings for yom kippur is the book of jonah in hebrew, sefer yonah. But it displeased jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point 1. The commentary clearly expounds the book s message in harmony with the rest of the scriptures.
What i found very helpful, as a christian minister, was a jewish perspective of a jewish book. Top 5 commentaries on the book of jonah by keith mathison. This was strange, because usually the preacher is pleased when the congregation repents, but jonah wasnt. The book is replete with irony, wherein much of its humor lies. 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. You can find the best commentary on jonah for you using the tools on the right side. Sometimes, a verse is divided in two in order to keep a. A discourse analysis of the hebrew bible zondervan exegetical commentary on.
Providing greek, hebrew, latin, aramaic, and, occasionally, syriac and arabic translations, this anchor bible commentary volume is an exciting addition to the worldacclaimed series. Scholars have long disagreed on the central message of the book of jonah. The word of the lord came to jonah and jonah refused. 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. Jonah 1 commentary john calvins commentaries on the bible. Jonah, the book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. 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. Bible students disagree about the meaning and purpose of this book. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonahs character is anything but dovelike. The bible knowledge commentary adds some thoughts here. A free bible commentary on the book of jonah in simple english.
When therefore jonah says that he was an hebrew, and worshipper of the true god, this tended to aggravate his fault or crime rather than to excuse it. The historicity and assyrian background of the book of jonah. Minor prophets study guide questionslessons learned. It is an important book to both religious traditions christianity and jewish. It would be presumptuous to think that one could, in a brief article, speak the final word on the questions in debate. Over the course of five days, read through the entire book of jonah alongside theologically rich passages from the esv expository commentary. God does not desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance 1 tim 2. A discourse analysis of the hebrew bible zondervan exegetical commentary on the old testament youngblood, kevin j. Should we read anything into the mention that god called jonah a second time. Rashis commentary on jonah is much shorter than the later commentaries. It is the custom in some communities to ask a stranger to offer a commentarycalled a dvar torah.
We have just added many new sources, including the expositors bible commentary, bengels gnomon, langes commentary, hastings great texts and many more. However, the book of jonah is presented in a nonhistorical setting. Following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah. Throughout the book, jonah is repeatedly referred to in the third person, causing some to search for.
Jonah free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. The book contains fascination interaction between men and god, which sasson brings out well. This commentary deals with the bible text like a picture in words about gods love. 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. 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. Its presence in the hebrew bible may suggest that this book was part of a larger collection of stories. Rashis commentary to the hebrew bible provides the foundation for ongoing conversation about its meaning. Bereishit genesis shemot exodus vayikra leviticus bamidbar numbers devarim deuteronomy. Most striking of all is the application of psalm 16. Sasson employs the very latest information in biblical scholarship to interpret the many nuances in jonah s seemingly simple story. The book depicts the larger scope of gods purpose for israel. This hebrew bible was edited by esteemed translator and scholar, rabbi a.
It is particularly difficult to identify the central theme that unites all the elements of the story in the book of jonah into a literary and conceptual whole. Summaryas soon as jonah s proclamation reached ninevehs king, he began mourning, and proclaimed that every man and beast in the land should refrain from eating food or drinking. A discourse analysis of the hebrew bible zondervan. 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. One could describe kimchis commentary as psychological.
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. Unpublished class notes in 103 introduction to hebrew exegesis. This commentary explains the things that are clear in the song. Torah the pentateuch neviim prophets ketuvim scriptures.
A paper presented in 381 bible researchold testament. Now, with regard to the chief reason, jeremiah and isaiah both were doubtless influenced by jonah, especially isaiah who, in full harmony with the inevitable deductions that appear mandatory in the book of jonah, prophesied again and again the rejection of israel and the acceptance of the gentiles into the kingdom of god. It is the custom in some communities to ask a stranger to offer a commentary called a. A discourse analysis of the hebrew bible zondervan exegetical commentary on the old testament. He quotes his father in his commentary to the book of jonah. Ac 1188 2 but then we find a startling, thoughtprovoking passage in. Excerpted with permission from the jps biblical commentary. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonah s character is anything but dovelike. We read nowhere in the book that jonah confessed his sin and received a new heart. It is one of trei asar the twelve prophets in the tanakh. Best commentaries and books on jonah logos bible software. God sent jonah to preach to nineveh, the capital city of israels prime enemy, assyria.
Best jonah commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. How to love god with all your heart by keith simons. Constable taught at dallas theological seminary for 45 years, and served as the chairman of its bible exposition department for years. Based on the same format and design as the torah volumes, jonah provides a critical linebyline commentary of the biblical text, which is. The prophet jonah a dove is already mentioned in 2 kings 14.
Constable, provide commentary on all 66 books of the bible and contain over 12,000 pages of material in pdf format. 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 broad variety of opinions on this subject from the talmudic sages through modem commentaries can be subsumed under four basic headings. About14old testament books begin with and, and they. He goes to joppa and boards a ship bound for tarshish. Grotius not so well explains it, one sprung from greece or ionia, where there were prophets called amythaonid. The book of jonah tells the story of a hebrew prophet named jonah ben amittai. There are allusions, in his prayer, to the great messianic psalms 22, 69 and 16. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle.
See the opening of exodus, leviticus, and other historical books. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the jewish tanakh. It is a wonderful and thorough study of the book of jonah. Study guide for jonah 2 by david guzik blue letter bible. This is the link to the playlist and a versebyverse narration. Desmond alexander, tyndale old testament commentaries totc, intervarsity press, 1988, 166 pp. 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. An easyenglish 2800 word vocabulary commentary on the book of jonah. With careful discourse analysis and interpretation of the hebrew text, the authors trace the flow of argument in each old testament book, showing that how a biblical.
Jonah 1 hebrew bible reading with english captions. Jonah s prophecy about israels boundaries being extended may indicate that he made that prophecy early in jeroboams reign. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. Anyone from beginner to expert will get something out of this book, and it really doesnt.
He examines jonahs inner process, telling us what jonah must have. Jonah 1 now the word of the lord came unto jonah the son of amittai, saying, copy options. Jonahs commission to nineveh, flight, punishment, and preservation by miracle. This commentary has been through advanced theological checking.
The hebrew language uses the word to dig with oars to describe this. It is one of trei asar the twelve prophets in the tanakh, and in christian tradition as oi dodeka prophetai or ton dodekapropheton, greek for the twelve prophets. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. 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. Click the commentary tab or pulldown menu for a full selection of commentaries over any bible passage you are researching. We would like to thank crossway for providing this plan. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. The book makes no direct claim regarding authorship. God calls jonah to proclaim judgment to nineveh, but jonah resists and attempts to flee so he doesnt have to complete his holy mission. We should not necessarily assume that jonah was back to his old ways, still wanting to avoid his mission trip to nineveh and hope god would forget all about him. Drawing on insights from various perspectivestheological, historical, and literaryleslie allens commentary on joel, obadiah, jonah, and micah carefully and imaginatively reconstructs the stage on which the message of these four books was conveyed to their hebrew hearers and shows what relevance, in turn, they hold for contemporary. He urged everyone to truly repent, in the hopes that god would relent, turn from his fierce anger. God calls jonah to preach to nineveh a second time, and jonah obeys.
Apr 15, 2015 the playlist jonah 1 hebrew text and narration contains every verse of the first chapter of the book of jonah in a separate video. Rather, they should cover themselves in sackcloth and call out mightily to the lord. As i have before observed, jonah seems here indirectly to intimate, 9 that he had been previously called to the office of a teacher. Zondervan exegetical commentary on the old testament. 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.
Understanding the book of the bible that plays a central role on the jewish calendars holiest day. Aug 10, 2010 and one of the synagogue readings for yom kippur is the book of jonah in hebrew, sefer yonah. He quotes short fragments from various psalms, and adapts them to meet his own case. The book of jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. This did not mean, however, that jonah remained the same. Obadiah and jonah a continental commentary by hans walter wolff. The prophecy of jonah to jeroboam conveys some important background material to enhance our understanding of this book. Sources from jewish, christian, secular, and other traditions are used.
And jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. The only reference to jonah in a historical context is found in 2 kings 14. An original translation is based on the textual notes, which explain all the grammatical features of the hebrew, revealing the literary artistry of jonah s author. Blue letter bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the bible.