Passage Of Jonah Analysis

This essay will attempt to exegete, the passage of Jonah chapter one. This is a common passage in the Old Testament known as the call of Jonah to Nineveh. It is widely believed that Jonah was a prophet of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, in about the 8th century BC . The available evidence seems fair to suggest that Jonah is the main character in the book named by his name. First thing to remember is that Johan’ popularity is based on his story for being swallowed by a fish. Hayes holds the view that he was born in 009BC in Gath-Hepher a few miles north of Nazareth. He was the son of the prophet Amittai. It traditionally believed that God revealed to Jonah that he will allow Israel to add a great expanse of territory to its borders.

Their prayers not helping, the sailors cast lot to try to determine who it was that had made God so angry. So they mixed a number of small stones together, as was the custom, and when they cast the lots it fell on Jonah. They must not have know who Jonah was for when the lot fell on him they excitedly inquired of him, why this was happening, what was his occupation, where he had come from and what was his nationality. Jonah knew God had caught up with him! So Jonah confessed that he was a Hebrew and a prophet, of the true God who made the heavens, sea and land. He further explained he was running from

In addition, God intend 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. Many contend it must have been a whale. Others believe it was a huge shark. The Hebrew word used here is "dag." In Numbers 11:22, the word is used to mean "all the fish in the sea." Thus it refers to all that live in the sea, which would include fish and mammals such as whales. In other places in the Old Testament the word is used of eatable fish. Isaiah 19:10, refers to "fish" in ponds. Ezekiel 29:4 refers to "fish" in rivers or fresh water fish. The "Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, blatantly states as unquestionable fact that, "The `great fish' of Jonah 2:1 was either a whale or shark". (Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 1, Walter A. Elwell, 1988, pg101) God seeks to restore fellowship to all His children that stray, and all we must do is simply and honestly repent of the sin, confess it as sin to God and He promises to forgive and help us keep from continuing in that sin. (I John