(4:6) After Jonah has sat down outside the city to see whether God would destroy it, God “appoints” מָנָהָ a plant to grow up over Jonah and his shelter to deliver him from רָָעָה. Many translate this as “trouble” or “distress,” but it seems most prudent to allow terms to remain consistent in meaning throughout the text.10 The best translation for the author‟s purpose seems to be “evil.” The author utilizes the repetition of the verbal root רָָעָה for an express reason, especially in Jonah 4. Though the term describes Nineveh, in 1:7, in 4:1 and 4:6 they describe
Jonah. Stylistically, the author portrays God as the one that “appoints” different aspects of creation to redeem, or deliver, what “evil” has befallen. In Jonah 1 and 2, God
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“appoints” a storm and a fish to deliver Jonah from “evil,” and in Jonah 4, God “appoints” a plant, worm, and east wind to collectively deliver him from “evil.” The reason the author employs this style, however, is not to show that God controls nature (as any Jew would have understood), but, 10 Stuart, 505; Simon, 43.
rather, why God intercedes at all. In Jonah, God intercedes (“appoints”) to deliver from “evil.” What the reader should see here is that the author uses this repetition to draw the audience in once more to the irony of Jonah‟s position. God is using the Jews to reach the nations, to reconcile them to God, but he does not need the Jews to do so. This is heavily proven by God‟s use of nature to restore …show more content…
Jonah. The plant, in fact, serves its purpose by delivering Jonah from “evil.” Jonah goes from exceedingly angry to exceedingly joyful, possibly symbolizing the fickle and “dove-like” nature of Jonah and Israel.
Jonah is not fully delivered by the plant, however as a simple change in mood does not solve Jonah‟s problem.
(4:7–8) The second part of Jonah‟s deliverance from evil is the worm and the east wind.
The worm killed the plant, and the east wind brought hot and non-precipitating weather causing Jonah pain and frustration, so much that he desires death. This scene, though, is confusing considering the fact that Jonah had previously built a “booth” or “shelter” for the purpose of obtaining shade. What did the small plant add that would have been so joy-giving? The most likely answer is that of the joy that must have been received by temperate weather and an unsolicited gift (plant). Jonah thought highly of the plant though it represented nature running its course. The likelihood exists that the 2T Jewish audience would have recognized the plant, the worm and the east wind as natural occurrences in the near east. Stuart also suggests that
Jonah‟s faintness and desire to die alludes to a common psychological condition, though this is
arguably irrelevant to the point of the story, it serves as a reminder of the region and climate of
Assyria. Important to note is the repeated phrase at the end of 4:8, לָמ֔ות וַיֹּ֕אֹמֶר ָ֥טוֹב מוֹ ֵ֖תי מֵחַיָָֽי “Death is better to me than life.” Here, of the many possible reasons this repetition could have been used, two warrant discussion. 1) The author of Jonah has repeated this phrase in order to suggest a comical rebuttal to Jonah‟s earlier sarcasm and 2) the author utilized this metaphor and repetition to ask the question, “Is death really better than life?” Jonah has moved from a self-inflicted situation to a situational infliction; from issues of preference to issues of life and death. The goal of this metaphor was to aid the transition. Jews had the monopoly on the knowledge of God, but instead of sharing it, they desired to isolate themselves. God‟s plan, however, was always meant for the nations, not only for the Jews. When this expansion occurs, the Jews and (in the case of the story) Jonah get angry. The theme of the Book of Jonah and of Jonah 4 centers around the question, “Do you do well to be angry?” To elaborate, another question may be formulated, “Did you deserve what I (God) gave you?” God specially chose the Jews. The rest of the world followed the natural pattern, sin, and evil. In the same way, God‟s destruction of the plant by the worm and the destruction of Jonah by the hot sun serve as types that the reader should identify with the nations. Plants die and nations are destroyed, but if God decides to intervene or give the opportunity for redemption, what is that to the vessel of deliverance? (i.e. Jonah, fish, storm, worm, plant, sun, etc.). Might Jonah be classified in Wisdom literature based on the content of the text?
The plant is shown to grow in abnormal places. As stated, hope helps reinforce survival. It also shows that heaven is real and is here. How when you blow, that is your cause of death and when the seeds fly, that represent your “angel” going to heaven. This plant, milkweed, can represent hope for the Jews. The plant grows basically anywhere it is put in. It shows that there is hope for a new life and that you can recover from the bad that you are experiencing. The seeds scatter which shows survival. You recover when you run away, as shown at the end of the book. The plant represents so many people who experienced the holocaust first hand. As the plant, the people survived the hardships of living in Warsaw with the hope of survival in the middle of the war. This shows another way Spinelli develop this
Specifically, it taught about how His mercy could not be restricted by a person’s preconceptions. Jonah was a prophet of God but was ruled by his unrelenting hatred towards sinners. Despite his loathing, God was more than capable of using him in the salvation of the corrupted. When Jonah was commanded by the Lord to preach to the Ninevites, he resisted. Nineveh was a pagan society and epitomized “everything evil that the Israelites hated” (MacArthur, Jonah 112), Seeing that his enemies would be forgiven if he delivered the message, Jonah fled from his duty. However, he would not be able to elude from the will of God and, after some precarious situations in the sea, would reluctantly prophesied to the Ninevites and inspired their faith in the Lord. This came to show that while “Jonah was filled with resentment … [and his] wrath was aroused, … the Lord [could still extend His] grace” (MacArthur, Jonah
The novel East of Eden by John Steinbeck is an allegory to the biblical story of Cain and Abel, and many of its characters become embodiments of both good and evil. As they struggle to overcome what has been decided for them they are taught they hold the power to overcome and rise above their destiny’s. When the Hebrew idea of “timshel” is introduced to the allegory of Cain and Abel, it become apparent that whether life is predestined or not; mankind holds the ultimate ability of deciding what will become of himself. Adam’s choice to move on from Cathy, Cal’s decision to forgive himself, and Cathy’s decision to let evil overcome her prove that overcoming what is predestined for one lies in the hands of the individual.
The cultural context of, and competing narratives to the Genesis creation story do not indicate a codependence between ancient works, but instead help to “calibrate the genre of Genesis 1,” according to Enns. What this unique milieu reveals is that the Hebrew creation story is not about creation as much as it is about God. Despite the obvious storyline of creation, it is God who is referenced more than thirty times throughout the first chapter of Genesis. Johnston, who argues at length that the Hebrew narrative is chiefly, though not solely, written to compete with Egyptian traditions, specifies that “Genesis 1 was originally composed, not as a scientific treatise, but as a theological polemic against…models of creation which competed against Yahwism for the loyalty of the ancient Israelites.” This was then, at its center point, a defining story about the divine Lord of Israel. In seeing this as a story about the power and character of Yahweh, a reasonable explanation is provided for the stylistic and parallel similarities it holds with other creation traditions. Devoid of violent conquest and noticeably missing the polytheistic committee of gods that the surrounding people groups worshipped, the Hebrews’ creation story described their God as the lone and unchallenged
In addition, God intends to accomplish his mission through Jonah. This is not the account of a chance happening in nature in which a huge fish just came by that was large enough and with an inclination to swallow a man. This fish was prepared by God. Many have speculated as to what kind of fish it was.
Metanarrative Essay The Biblical metanarrative can be explained by a Christian as the true and triumphant story from the beginning in Genesis until the future is prophesied in Revelation. Others who may not be a Christian do not understand the true power and love God has over us and for us and may just simply see it as a story or a rule book that they don’t want to follow. They see the Bible and all the things and plans God has for us and our lives and just think they don’t want any part of it and instead they live in sin. It is important that these people not only learn the true story but understand it as well.
In this reimagining of the roles of good and evil, we see that there is a similar struggle in both stories. Beowulf mirrors it so closely, in fact, that careful consideration of the information plainly available can cause the lines of good and evil to blur perceptually. It is clear that the author of Beowulf had a deep understanding of the concepts of the Biblical creation story and took great care to recreate the struggle of good and evil in his epic.
In the beginning of the 1600's and towards the ending of the 1800's millions of innocent people were grabbed and torn away from their homelands leaving their independence behind. Primarily African men, women, and children were traded, as if they were dirt; being shipped and sold. Once sold, they were mostly forced to do very laborious jobs such as plantation workers and factory workers. The middle passage, also known as the triangular trade route included Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The middle passage contained many goods being traded and sold throughout it such as weapons, food, raw materials, and slaves. The middle passage was a very dreadful time period for Africans.
In the opening scene of Indiana Jones and The Raiders of the Lost Ark we see Indiana Jones’ whip in his pocket, and his hat from behind. The ordinary world for Indiana Jones is not really boring, as he is living as a professor at Oxford, and he is living day by day, but he is constantly being hit on by many of the undergraduates that he teaches in his Archaeology class. We see the undergraduate girl close her eye lid to display a message that said “LOVE YOU.”
The setting of the story represents Jig and her relationship with her American companion. “The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun” (Hemingway 224). “The hills were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry” (Hemingway 224). This story uses a lot of symbolism and imagery to get a point across of what was going on between the man and Jig. The land is dry and barren just like their relationship is at the moment. The problem is separating Jig and the man, other than bringing them together. There are many choices to this problem, but only one decision must be made.
In the first chapter of Genesis we can see the first relationships God creates with man. God makes man in his own image so that he may have relationships with them which is unique in that man is the only one of God’s creations that he gives the ability to do this. In both stories, we see that God is the
In accordance to African American writer Margaret Walker’s quote that talks about African Americans still having their African past intact despite slavery and racism, immigration indeed affected cultural ways. The interconnection of the trans-Atlantic world brought about the rise of new cultures, music and expressions that were to be held by future generations, which is now the population of African American people. This paper will research on the middle passage and the early American slavery and how African tried to resist.
On an opposite note, Jonah was a man whom God called upon to become a prophet. Jonah refused because he didn't desire a life of servitude. Knowing that he had committed an ultimate sin, Jonah fled to the ocean, risking hundreds of crew members' lives, believing that God would not be able to follow. In the sea, Jonah was swallowed by God in the form of a whale In the whale's belly, he repented and prayed for forgiveness. He was spit up by the whale upon dry land and all was forgiven.
As the poem continues, the Shepherd offers the Nymph "a belt of straw and ivy buds" ( ). The belt and ...
The Book of Jonah is dated between 783 and 745 B.C. and takes place in an ancient Assyrian city, Nineveh. During this particular time, the Assyrians were aggressive and often had internal conflicts which had a bit of a change in its rulers. However time after time, the Assyrians nevertheless “retrenched itself in its old evil ways” (Judisch 154). The Assyrians would intimidate and fear the Israelites, making it easier for Jonah to not care about the city of Nineveh when God instructed him to help preach to the Assyrians. Nineveh was accused of evils and the Ninevites were ...