Unlike the other prophets, the book of jonah is almost entirely narrative, with the exception of the poem in chapter 2. Midrash refers to a type of interpretation of scripture that is basically expository in nature. As with any good narrative, the story of jonah has a setting, characters, a plot, and themes. Old testament narrative as history in contrast with a nationalistic myth, old testament narrative is a truthful recording of history, with the goal of revealing and glorifying god. The historical view considers the book of jonah as a true and literal narration of facts which occurred exactly as they were related in the book. The historical events of naaman the syrian or the widow of zarephath are simple. For example, in the book of jonah, the author selected a person who reportedly lived during the times of the prophet amos. It is incredible that one could be alive for three days in a fishs belly. Ironically, the book of jonah is filled with irony, parody and exaggeration that are often overlooked by many interpreters.
How to read historical narrative christian research institute. There is also no known author for the book of jonah. This debate has made the book of jonah one of the most visible outposts along the liberalconservative battle. Much of the bible requires little or no interpretation, especially when it comes to historical narrative in contrast with parables, for example. The reader will mark that our lord referred to the miraculous preservation of jonah, and his deliverance, as a historical event, recorded in the first and second chapters of the book of jonah, not as a myth or allegory, but as a historical fact. Jonah, ruth, and esther cliffsnotes study guides book. The book of jonah is an example that will be used to determine if this particular story describes an accurate recount of history, or if it teaches the readers a lesson. First of all we may justifiably point out that the bible does not speak of a whale. In galatians 4, paul explains how the history of abraham and his family is indicative of any persons experience as a sinner under the law or as redeemed by christ. For the purposes of this discussion, lets assume that the book of jonah is a historical narrative of an actual event. Jan 22, 2011 a specific example the author drew on was the story of jonah, which features the unlikely event of a man being swallowed by a giant fish and living in the fishs digestive tract for three days before being vomited up on land.
Fifth in the canonical order of the minor prophets. It is said to be about the prophet jonah of gathhepher in zebulon, who lived in the eight century during the reign of israels king jeroboam ii. Some critics have sought to interpret the book as a parable or allegory, and not as a history. And some have pointed out that the poem in chapter 2 cannot possibly be a historical account of jonah s experience in the fish. The book of jonah is anonymous, and we really do not know who the author was or when he lived. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. As jonah was three days and three nights in the whales belly, so shall the son of man be three. This includes not only critical scholars, but also an increasing number of evangelical christian scholars. There are many ways to interpret the jonah narrative and the character of jonah. Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. Free jonah essays and papers free essays, term papers. One must appreciate the brutality of the assyrians had meant for all who had suffered so mightily under that merciless war machine.
The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic book which some commentators believe jonah wrote personally in roughly 786760 b. Jonah, the sailors on the boat, and the people of nineveh. It becomes necessary to inquire into the purpose and teaching of the book, because of the fact that it is not a historical narrative, but a midrash, and also because of its conclusion. Historical study of jonah the book of jonah demonstrates the scope of gods mercy as he receives other nations and the. Nov 21, 2012 the most difficult and troubling passages often open their meaning and significance in the most beautiful way when the historical and cultural background of the text is grasped. Professor settle listed several alleged inaccuracies contained in the book.
The text of jonah lacks typical indications that would call for an allegorical understandingthe text is presented in the form of historical narrative. 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. A specific example the author drew on was the story of jonah, which features the unlikely event of a man being swallowed by a giant fish and living in the fishs digestive tract for three days before being vomited up on land. Discuss what you think each of these three parties learned about gods nature and character especially his mercy. The following structure is based on a careful analysis of the content of jonah in the hebrew text.
This article does not attempt to resolve all issues regarding the genre and background of the book. Yhwh, redemption and the narrative history of jonah and the. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. Nineveh was spared after jonahs mission for more than a century. Jonah, the book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. In fact, only one verse summarizes his message to the people of nineveh 3. Because it was not necessary to report accurate historical events in every detail of the story, the author was free to construct the characters and events in a way that would illustrate precisely the lesson he wanted to teach. The text of jonah lacks typical indications that would call for an allegorical understanding the text is presented in the form of historical narrative. Is the book of jonah is factual, allegorical, mythical or.
The historicity of the book of jonah, and why it still. The purpose of the book of jonah is to show gods people that his plan is exceedingly compassionate god is gracious and exceedingly certain god is sovereign. The most difficult and troubling passages often open their meaning and significance in the most beautiful way when the historical and cultural background of the text is grasped. The actual prophetic word against nineveh is given only in passing through the narrative. Nachtigal 1799 contended that there were three different authors of widely different periods. 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.
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. It is also mentioned ny jesus as a picture of his death and resurrection matthew 12. Nov 06, 2017 the gospel authors, for example, or the authors of the. It differs from them in that while they for the most part contain prophetic discourses, with a minimum of narrative material, the book of jonah is mainly occupied with a narrative, and the prophetic message in it is almost incidental.
The chapter divisions mark the natural divisions of the book. This little roll of four short chapters has given rise to almost as much discussion and difference of opinion as the first four chapters of genesis. So myth is utilized, but it is obvious in this poetic context that a historical meaning isnt intended this is a different genre, a different game with different rules. In the book of jonah, jonah the prophet is instructed to go to a pagan city nineveh to preach to the ninevites, hoping that they will repent for their sins. At times, the odd structure and ending of the book have been used to support this theory, since the book does not follow a normal form for historical narrative. Dec 08, 2016 for example, the book of job takes the ancient myths related to leviathan and recasts them in a poetic context. Yhwh, redemption and the narrative history of jonah and. Jonah, book of webbible encyclopedia christiananswers. The book of jonah cannot be accepted as history settle, b4. This book professes to give an account of what actually took place in the experience of the prophet.
Jonah, a jew, in contrast, hates the people who live in nineveh. The view that jonah wrote the story of his own disobedience and his debate with the merciful god has not been made wholly untenable. Jonah lived and ministered in israel during the 8th century bc, during the reign of king jeroboam ii 2 kings 14. The title of the studysalvation belongs to the lordcomes directly from jonah 2. Therefore, as in most historical narratives one key component of the story would be lost if the historical referent were dropped. Analysis of the book of jonah essay 2162 words bartleby.
However as adults we see that there is more to the story. Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical. In a wellauthenticated historical narrative there is always to be found a number, greater or less, of historical particulars, which serve as indirect proof of the truth of the narrative. What is the books literary genrestyle parody, satire, humor, etc. The analysis of the various imaginative genre classifications of the book of jonah shows that scholars have viewed the book as an allegory, parable, mashal, prophetic legend, midrash, novella, or. The book of jonah is peculiar because it names a historical person, but theres no. Literary analysis of jonah chiasmus in jonah has been noted by numerous biblical scholars. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. The book of jonah merely mentions a great fish jonahi, 17, and although the english version in matthewxii, 40 uses the word whale, the greek original has katoj, which is a general word meaning a huge seamonster. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. It is believed to be reflective of the yahwist or jahwist tradition.
Considers the book of jonah as a parable designed to teach a lesson in which jonah represents israel, and the fish which swallowed him as israels captivity. The historical view considers the book of jonah as a true and literal narration of facts. While some read jonah as a historical narrative, there are a number of reasons for thinking that this is a misunderstanding of jonahs genre. The book of jonah has all the marks of a prophetic narrative, like those about elijah and elisha found in 1 kings, which set out to report actual historical events. It would be presumptuous to think that one could, in a brief article, speak the final word on the questions in debate.
Regardless of ones position on the historicity of jonah, though, most readers can hopefully agree that the main focus of the story is. The book of jonah was written in the fifth century during the postexilic era. However, to my knowledge this is the first attempt to present an overall literary analysis of the book as a whole. Everyone in this account seems to be learning about gods nature and character. In contrast with a nationalistic myth, old testament narrative is a truthful recording of history, with the goal of revealing and glorifying god. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man. The jonah narrative is a story often told to children to emphasize that it is wrong to run from god and there is no way to escape from god. The book before us, it is claimed, exhibits but few of these particulars. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of jonah in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. The gospel authors, for example, or the authors of the. In his article, he attacked the book of jonah by stating.
This book is different from the other prophetic books because it tells the story of the prophet and does not center on his prophecies. Jonah, satire and literal interpretation theopolitical. The significance and import of those narratives are provided by jesus himself within the historical narrative of jesus early teaching in the synagogue luke 4. Proper interpretation and application of old testament narrative is built on the principle that such scripture is historical, theological and literary in nature. Jonahs displeasure at gods merciful decision, and the rebuke tendered to the impatient prophet. Book of jonah, also spelled jonas, 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. The history of jonah may well be regarded as a part of that great onward movement which was before the law and under the law. If we are clear about what the historical narrative is reporting, we might find comment within. Most modern bible scholars view the book of jonah as a myth or legend, not as a true historical narrative.
First, the vast majority of jewish and christian interpreters up to the nineteenth century have regarded jonah as historical. The book of jonah gives us a historical glimpse of a portion of the life of jonah to demonstrate that god has compassion on all people. The traditional view, that jonah is the author and the narrative is historically true, is supported by a number of considerations. How can i apply narrative criticism on the book of jonah.
Nonetheless, we suggest that jonah is best read as a stylized historical narrative. For over 2,000 years most christians and jews have viewed the book of jonah as an historical narrative such unanimity of tradition cannot be easily dismissed. For example, the book of job takes the ancient myths related to leviathan and recasts them in a poetic context. How to read historical narrative christian research. The supposed legendary character of some of the events e.
595 1387 1099 1527 594 44 1069 135 1496 1430 524 365 664 157 1502 1066 1483 379 104 1449 1105 1383 1095 1201 1265 1239 1456 135 1425 792