Book of jonah authorship

The issue is complicated somewhat by the use of the. Contrary to other prophetic works, this book is written about jonah in the past tense and portrays an ongoing dialogue with god, quite like the book of job in wisdom literature. The various theories and counter theories that have been built upon this slender evidence, leave the book with the description that has happily been given of it, this book of unknown authorship, of unknown date, of disputed meaning, but of surpassing. Ironically, the book of jonah is filled with irony, parody and exaggeration that are often overlooked by many interpreters.

This book, was probably written by jonah about 760 b. Second, identifying jonah as the author is impossible if the book was written between 400 bc and 200 bc as suggested above. Help us and translate this article into another language. The foundational source for the book was likely jonahs own telling of the story after his return from nineveh. Traditionally, the book has been ascribed to jonah, the son of amittai, who lived in the 8th cent.

So instead, jonah ran away from god and went in a ship towards. The book tells the story of the prophet jonah, who was called by god to go to the heathen city of nineveh, which god would soon destroy if they did not repent. Jonah is assumed to have been a genuine sign to the people of ninevah. This particular issue has drawn a disproportionate amount of discussion and has usually generated more heat than light. Unfortunately, many christians thoughtlessly cast aspersions upon this important book in the canon of scripture without realizing that they are playing into the hands of the critics and innocently becoming the dupes of the skeptics. Midrash jonah is the midrash to the book of jonah, read on the day of atonement as haf. The book of jonah stands unique in the prophetical canon, in that it does not contain.

The audience of the book of jonah was the people of israel and all future readers of the bible and, typically, prophets issued warnings or gave instructions to the people of israel. Purpose jonah teaches us gods mercy toward a gentile nation who was an enemy of israel. First, there is no mention anywhere in jonah or elsewhere in scripture about who wrote this short prophetic book. Although the book is written in the third person, the traditional view is that jonah is the author of the book, and there is no persuasive reason to theorize about an unknown author. This is a minority opinion not generally shared, even by those who reject the books historicity. Nineveh was the main city of the assyrians who were the enemies of jonah s country of israel. This style of authorship observed in the book of jonah significantly distinguishes it from all other biblical literature. Jonah also teaches gods love for his servants, even those who are hesitant to do his will. The book of jonah in the context of postexilic theology. There is possibility that another author could have written the book. Ultimately, above the human authors, the bible was written by god.

The book of jonah stands as an important link in the prophetic chain, giving readers a glimpse of christs death and resurrection hundreds of years before they actually occurred. Authorship jonah was written by the prophet jonah himself. The traditional view is that the prophet jonah is the author, and his book is a record of his own experiences. 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. It is incredible that one could be alive for three days in a fishs belly. Consequently, scholars must consider linguistic and historical factors to approximate such information. Jonah also teaches gods love for his servants, even those who are hesitant to do. The book of jonah recounts real events in the life and ministry of the prophet himself. The people of ninevah are included among another historical figure the queen of the south. The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name the prophet as the author of his own account, but we have no reason to doubt.

The theme of repentance nominates it for being read on yom kippur, but it has less to say about repentance than it. Books of the bible, authors and dates of writing bible. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man. The book of jonah stands unique in the prophetical canon, in that it does not contain any predictions, but simply relates the story of its hero, beginning for that reason with waye. Its treatment of that mission is thus similar to the accounts of the ministries of elijah and elisha found in 1,2 kings. In the belly of the fish for three days, jonah cries out to god, repents. Although this book is clearly about the prophet jonah, it was written by a later, unknown author see bible dictionary, jonah. It was not an uncommon old testament practice, however, to write in the third person e.

A tomb at gathhepher, mentioned by jerome, was also assigned to jonah by tradition. Jonah and the whale 1621 by pieter lastman the book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Jonah lived before and in the early days of king jeroboam ii. Jonah slept in a place where he hoped no one would see him or disturb him. The old testament book of jonah, contains four chapters, and fortyeight verses. Although the author of jonah is never identified in the book itself, jonah himself has traditionally been identified as the author. Jonah author and title the title of the book is the name of the main character, jonah. Nowhere in the book is it stated that the main character, jonah, wrote the book. Professor settle listed several alleged inaccuracies contained in the book. Throughout the book, jonah is repeatedly referred to in the third person, causing some to search for another author.

Unlike most other prophetic parts of the ot, this book is a narrative account of a single prophetic mission. Title following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text mt, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah meaning dove, the son of amittai 1. The inclusion of the book of jonah among the minor prophets is paralleled by the inclusion of ii kings xviii. Books of the bible, authors and dates of writing bible book author date of writing approximate genesis moses 1446 bc exodus moses 1405 bc leviticus moses 1405 bc. A more recent view is that the book was written long after jonahs time by some anonymous author and that it is a work of fiction with a moral lesson. The theme of repentance nominates it for being read on yom. The book makes no direct claim regarding authorship. We know nothing of the author other than what we can intuit from the book. The authorship of the book by jonah in third person is a possibility, as there is no evidence presented in the book or the rest of the bible against it. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the. Jonah, in the story, feels about nineveh as does the author of the book of.

Though the book does not identify its author, tradition has ascribed it to the prophet himself, jonah son of amittai 1. When the call of god came to him, jonah could not see beyond his own selfish desire for god to punish the assyrians. The book of jonah cannot be accepted as history settle, b4. Introduction to jonah lake erie bible church pt ken reed july 2008 1 introduction to the book of jonah i. To calm a storm, the crew throws jonah into the sea, where he is swallowed by a great fish god. Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. Sleeping christians stay away from the work of the lord jonah slept while there was a prayer meeting up on the deck. Nov 19, 2012 so based on the date and message of the book of jonah, the view of this commentary is that jonah is the originator of the story, but it was passed down orally for several hundred years, being modified and changed over time, until it was eventually recorded by a later author who lived in judea during the postexilic time period, and was using the.

These attribute various psalms, especially in books i3, to david, asaph, the sons of korah, solomon, moses, and others. Book of jonah, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, embraced in a single book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Concern for the salvation of all people, including ones enemies, is the proper attitude for people of god. Web links key passages reading list content overview jonah, book of. The book is anonymous, and there are no indicators elsewhere in scripture to identify the author.

Mar 16, 2019 written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Book of jonah simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Aug 10, 2010 yonah is a strange prophet, and sefer yonah the book of jonah a strange book. If it is assumed that jonah intends to be a historical account, then certainly much of its content must 1 scholars vary on the specific dates. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Throughout the book, jonah is repeatedly referred to in the third person, causing some to search for. The supposed legendary character of some of the events e. The book of jonah is part of scriptures for the three major monotheistic faiths. The book of jonah makes no direct claim to its authorship, although the author may be jonah. C most scholars treat the story of jonah as fact, including christ who mentions him in matt 12. A more recent view is that the book was written long after jonahs time by some anonymous author and that it. The book is anonymous, and its authorship is in dispute. The book of jonah makes no direct claim to its authorship, although the author may be jonah himself.

One of the more popular narratives of the bible, jonah is included with the prophetic books of the old testament. One other obvious hyperbolic element in the book is the repentance of animals together with the ninevites, which influenced a number of scholars to challenge the historical level of the book. More radical critics see three or more sources used in the composition of the book. However, the majority of scholars today deny jonah s authorship and date the bok between 400 and 200 bc. In response we confirm that jonah does indeed echo several psalms, some of which are attributed to david. Although the book is written in the third person, the traditional. The first verse of this book states that jonah, was the son of amittai, who is mentioned in 2 kings. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. God superintended the human authors of the bible so that, while using their own writing styles and personalities, they still recorded exactly what god intended. We want people all over the world to learn about history.

Yonah is a strange prophet, and sefer yonah the book of jonah a strange book. Biblical canon authorship english bible translations other books referenced in the bible pseudepigrapha list new testament apocrypha. With the exception of jonah, which is a fictional work, it is generally assumed that there exists an original core of tradition behind each book that can be attributed to the prophet for whom it is named, but the dates for several of the books joel, obadiah, jonah, nahum, zechariah 914 and malachi are debated. Literary characteristics unlike most other prophetic parts of the ot, this book is a narrative account of a single prophetic mission. Determining date and authorship of jonah remains problematic, as explicit references do not exist within the narrative. Jonah intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. Jonah overview ellicotts commentary for english readers. The people of ninevah are assumed to have repented, and to be among those who will judge jesus generation in the future. King jeroboam ii 793753 restored her traditional borders, ending almost a century of sporadic seesaw conflict between israel and damascus. So based on the date and message of the book of jonah, the view of this commentary is that jonah is the originator of the story, but it was passed down orally for several hundred years, being modified and changed over time, until it was eventually recorded by a later author who lived in judea during the postexilic time period, and was using the.

The majority of scholars today deny jonahs authorship primarily pointing to. Following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah. Jonah prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii, king of the north 793753. While the book of daniel claims to be written roughly around 530 bc, critics of the ot claim that it was written in 167 bc, during the maccabean era. Scholars debate the date and authorship of the book of jonah because there are so few clues as to when it was written. Regarding the authorship and date of writing, nothing explicit is provided in scripture. Commentators who have interpreted the book as an historical narrative identify jonah with the 8thcent.

However, the book of jonah is presented in a nonhistorical setting. Book of jonah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. This shows god also is merciful toward all peopleeven those who act as enemies of his own people. Book of jonah old testament britannica encyclopedia britannica. In the halfcentury during which the prophet jonah ministered 800750 b. Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical. Introduction jonah is the book of the bible which perhaps has been criticized more than any other. Nineveh was the main city of the assyrians who were the enemies of jonahs country of israel. The book of jonah in the context of postexilic theology of. The book of jonah was likely written between 793 and 758 b. Therefore, when the title was assigned to it, it may have intended that the book was written by jonah or that the book is about jonah. It is assumed that jonah had given his prophecy regarding jeroboams territorial expansion early in the kings reign 2 ki 14. The unity and authorship of the book of isaiah has been a touchy subject for many christians for much of the 20th century. The only reference to jonah in a historical context is found in 2 kings 14.