Book of jonah chapter 3 commentary

A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. Now the word of the lord came to jonah the son of amittai, saying, arise, go to nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it. Jonah s experiences form the main contents and purpose of the book. The word of yahweh came to jonah the second time, saying v. Weve gone through the story in years past, but in connection with the book, i want to reiterate it one more time to you. David guzik commentary on jonah 3 describes the ministry of the prophet, who. We might almost call these three the repentance of jonah, of nineveh, and of god. Jonah 3, new international version niv the bible app. Jonah says, really, god, just kill me now, which is overthetop emo even for a prophet but a not so subtle callback to the lament in the third chapter of the book of job. Baldwin also questions the arguments of those who identify jonah as a work of fiction. But the lord provided a great fish to swallow jonah, and jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

We read how the king of nineveh orders everyone and even the. Jonahs mission renewed, and the command a second time. Jonah 3 is the third chapter of the book of jonah in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. This chapter recounts the divine commission which came to jonah, instructing him to prophesy against the city of nineveh because of their great wickedness, the prophets rebellious disobedience in trying to avoid the assignment by fleeing in the opposite direction, the judgment of god against him in the great storm that threatened the wreck of his ship, the prophets guilt exposed. The book depicts the larger scope of gods purpose for israel. By paralleling here the books opening remarks, almost word for word, the.

The first time the lord spoke to jonah was at the beginning of chapter 1. 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. Study the bible online using commentary on jonah 3 and more. But jonah ran away from the lord and headed for tarshish. The opening chapter of jonah is set in the midst of an intense storm, a really intense storm. Jonah 3 jonah preaches repentance in nineveh, the city repents a. Now nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days journey. 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 crux of jonahs story is in the fourth chapter, for the point of the narrative is not about. Jonahs mission renewed, and the command a second time given him to go preach at nineveh v. Decidedly not dead, jonah runs away again and hangs out in makeshift hut. Just like jonah, many spiritual leaders received a second chance to do what god. The book of jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan.

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. Jonah 3 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on the. The broad variety of opinions on this subject from the talmudic sages through modem commentaries can be subsumed under four basic headings. God, however, takes the opportunity to toy with him again. The most helpful introductory level commentary on jonah is in the. Jonah therefore is the only prophet of the ot revealing the grace of god towards the heathen. Jonah 3 new international version niv jonah goes to nineveh. God spoke to jonah in his own unique and powerful way and he told jonah to do two. Jonah 3 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. Now l nineveh was an exceedingly great city, 1 three days journey in breadth. It had conviction, confession, contrition, and intercession.

Jonah 3 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Jonahs message to nineveh faithfully delivered, by which its speedy overthrow was threatened v. So, jonah decided to go in the opposite direction, aiming for tarshish probably a place in spain, famous for its ships. The book is prose narrative throughout, except the prayer of thanksgiving in the second chapter jon 2. His making use of us is an evidence of his being at peace with us. This is a summary of the third chapter of jonah, the most important verse, and what i think god is wanting us to do in response to it. And it is only by the gospel revelation that any can be assured that god will. Had he prayed instead of fleeing from god, he would not have had this harrowing experience. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. One of the great lessons of jonahs failure and forgiveness is that god can continue to use those who return to him. God speaks to jonah, trying to explain, but the book ends without resolution and jonah goes away mad. Jonahs experiences form the main contents and purpose of the book.

The book of jonah is read in the jewish calendar on yom kippur, the day of atonement, when jews confess their sins against god and neighbor. So we might almost say that the purpose of this book of jonah is to teach the. The repentance, humiliation, and reformation of the ninevites hereupon. When we left jonah at the end of chapter two he had just. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet jonah, and is a part of the book of the twelve minor prophets. Study jonah 3 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Jonahs mission to nineveh implied that a heathen city afforded as legitimate a field for the prophets labors as israel, and with a more successful result compare am 9.

It is evidently the design of the writer of this book to give prominence to the vast size of nineveh. We hear from jonah himself that god is merciful and compassionate, slow to become angry, and rich in faithful love. But at the beginning of chapter 3, jonah at least obeys god when given a second chance verses. Jonah praying chapter 2 for 3 days and 3 nights, jonah was in the belly of the fish. Jonah preaching chapter 3 although jonah had gone through a traumatic experience and had reaffirmed his faith in god, he still needed to fulfill the lords commission to him. The lord said again, arise, go unto nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that i bid thee 3. He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth.

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. Offering jonah to the congregation yields the same type of contemplation on gods attributes that we. The information presented covered context, dating, purpose, and interpretation of jonah. In my distress i called to the lord, and he answered me. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Jonah 3 bible commentary matthew henry concise christianity. However, the opening words of the book, now the word of yahweh came to jonah son of amittai 1. Now the word of the lord came to jonah the second time, saying, arise, go to nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that i tell you. Jonah had made a serious mistake and suffered serious consequences.

Now nineveh was a very important citya visit required three days. Jonahs message to nineveh faithfully delivered, by which its speedy overthrow was threatened. First is gods grace shown to his prophet, jonah, by extending him a second chance after his flagrant rebellion in chapter 1. Jonah 3 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The book of jonah is listed among the minor prophets, but jonah is nowhere in this book called a prophet. On the former occasion the specific object of his commission to nineveh was declared.

The lord had given a specific great fish a new task swallow jonah. In contrast to the carefully crafted and insightfully detailed oracles of judgment in many of the prophetic books, jonah offers a fiveword in hebrew proclamation. It condemns the men of the gospel generation, matthew 12. God, jonah, people and city of nineveh capital of assyria. This time there is no argument from jonah to the command of god. As with chapter 3, grace is a major theme in the book of jonahs final chapter. The commentary on jonah in this volume was written by joyce baldwin. The book of jonah is read in the jewish calendar on yom kippur, the day of. Jonah chapter 3 summary and what god wants from us youtube. When we left jonah at the end of chapter one it is fair to say he was in a slightly sticky situation. This is one of those scripture passages where the preacher must know the. The book of jonah chapter 3 verses 7 10 allows us to look at what serious repentance looks like.