Book of jonah jewish commentary

The holiest day in the jewish calendar is yom kippur, the day of atonement, with its theme of repentance. The book of jonah explained by jewish commentaries. Go at once to nineveh, that great city, and proclaim judgment upon it. The book of jonah is a largerthanlife story of every individual who seeks closeness with god. The story of jonah and the whale the book of jonah. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Scholars have long disagreed on the central message of the book of jonah. Based on the same format and design as the torah volumes, jonah provides a critical linebyline commentary of the biblical text, which is presented in its original hebrew, complete with vocalization and cantillation marks, as well as the jps english translation. Bibliotheca sacra this volume is a welcome addition to modern scholarship on the book of jonah. Perhaps the third quarter of the eighth century is the most likely date for the book, after the public ministries of amos and hosea and before the fall of samaria to assyria in 722721. For israel or the jews, respectively, this was very difficult to understand for they considered only themselves as gods. An easyenglish 2800 word vocabulary commentary on the book of jonah.

Perhaps we could reflect upon a few of these matters. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. First, we should note that this marvelous narrative has suffered the brunt of the critics barbs for a long while. 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. The lord had prepared a great fish to swallow jonah.

The broad variety of opinions on this subject from the talmudic sages through modem commentaries can be subsumed under four basic headings. This commentary has been through advanced theological checking. There has been some inconclusive discussion among biblical scholars as to whether this is the same jonah, or a different one. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. This book was an exceptionally good and concise commentary on the book of jonah. The meaning of the jonah story read on yom kippur michael. In any case, from its style it is quite clear that the book of jonah was written centuries later. 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 either the inspiration or the historical veracity of the book. He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. You can find the best commentary on jonah for you using the tools on the right side. The content of the book enjoys more notoriety than it deserves because of the miraculous elements which make up a large part of it.

Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. 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. Now the lord had prepared a great fish to swallow jonah. Though i must state that the author is writing from the view of didactic fiction meaning that he views the book of jonah as based on a historical figure and life, but not a record of literal history.

This commentary has been through advanced theological checking words in boxes are from the bible. An outstanding literary and exegetical commentary on the book of jonah. There is a paradoxical recognition that the closer one comes to god, the more one becomes conscious of the chasm separating gods wisdom from our own. It shows that god has given these people repentance for life. Indeed, the account in the book of jonah depends on that in the book of kings. Entry for jonah, book of the 1901 jewish encyclopedia one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, this encyclopedia is a descriptive record of the history, religion and customs of the jewish people.

Jonah signifies a dove, a proper name for all gods prophets, all his people, who ought to be harmless as doves, and to mourn as doves for the sins and calamities of the land. He went down to joppa and found a ship going to tarshish. The story of jonah and the whale the book of jonah explained. Jonah has been a favorite subject for midrashic commentary. And one of the synagogue readings for yom kippur is the book of jonah in. The complexity of the motives in the book of jonah is palpable. Free online bible library jewish commentary on the bible. Jonah, however, started out to flee to tarshish from the lords service. In the eighth century commentary in pirkei drabbi eliezer, we are taught, jonah entered the fishs mouth, as a man who enters a great synagogue, and he stood and the two eyes of the fish were like glass windows giving light to jonah. The sign of jonah is not a sign of preaching or bringing a message, as some allege. Jonah 1 keil and delitzsch ot commentary bible hub.

Jonah did not want to go on this mission and attempted to flee to tarshish in spain. Firstly the book of jonah is a proof of gods unlimited grace and mercy not only for his earthly people israel but also for the impious heathen city of nineveh. This is the perfect type of fleshly israels rejection of christ and of christianity throughout history. Medieval jewish commentaries to the book of jonah, translated and explained kindle edition by steven bob. Passing over the brief prophecy of obadiah, with its veiled reference to the messiah in saviours who will go up on mount zion, under the leadership of the jehovahsaviour, for the kingdom shall be the lords obadiah 1. Even though jonah did what gd commanded, his heart was still far from gd. The inclusion of the book of jonah among the minor prophets is paralleled by the inclusion of ii kings xviii. This meant according to the understanding of jonah that nineveh would be destroyed. The book of jonah ends with the reader not knowing if jonah ever understood what it was to really repent before gd or not. Mention must also be made of isaac arama 143094, whose aqedhah, his commentary on the pentateuch homiletical in style, was the standard book for the jewish pulpit for centuries, much esteemed by the christian world, and is still much read by the jews, especially in russia and poland. The book of jonah relates how god told jonah to go to the major assyrian city of nineveh and there prophecy that after 40 days it would be overturned. The drama of the story, however, is of jonahs initial refusal and ongoing reluctance to fulfill this. The book of jonah closes with sullen and unwilling jonah still preferring death to gods outpouring of mercy upon anyone except jonah and his jewish relatives. 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 concerns a disobedient prophet who rejected his divine commission, was cast overboard in a storm and swallowed by a great fish, rescued in a marvelous manner, and returned to his starting point. The story of the prophet jonah that we customarily read on yom kippur captures the essence of the holiday, that we need to put ourselves. Medieval jewish commentaries on the book of jonah, translated and explained steven bob on. 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. Full text in english of the book of jonah my jewish learning.

It is an important book to both religious traditions christianity and jewish. Listen to chuck swindoll s overview of jonah in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Jonah 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The honour god put upon jonah, in giving him a commission to go and prophesy against nineveh. And jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Medieval jewish commentaries to the book of jonah, translated and explained kindle edition by bob, steven. 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. But that selective and erroneous interpretation conveniently overlooks the plain meaning of jesus words.

Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical. In the eighth century commentary in pirkei drabbi eliezer, we are. I believe that we read the book of jonah on yom kippur afternoon to. The book of jonah is filled with valuable information and timeless lessons. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Top 5 commentaries on the book of jonah ligonier ministries. Jonah represents the jewish people and for that matter all people, for all of us have to decide what we are. Jonah 4 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. The sign of jonah is the only sign that christ specifically gives to prove that he was the messiah. Some question if this could happen as the bible says it did.

The story of jonah, like every story told by the torah, isin its entiretya timeless teaching. The witness of jonah max reich the messianic hope of israel. Shipmates, this book, containing only four chaptersfour yarns. This commentary explores the book of jonah, providing historical and literal context, interpretative insights, and practical application principles. Oct 01, 2017 the story of the prophet jonah that we customarily read on yom kippur captures the essence of the holiday, that we need to put ourselves aside and act for the benefit of others the story of. Jonah had only repented outwardly, but inside he was still fleeing from gd. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.