The Prophet Jonah
Jonah was a prophet who lived in Gath-Hepher, just to the north of the city of Nazarene, in the late 700s B.C. He is most widely known in popular culture as the biblical figure who was swallowed by a whale when he rejects God's command to visit the city of Nineveh. Depictions of Jonah in the Hebrew Bible are actually more detailed than the simple whale story, however. Jonah also appears in the Islamic Qur'an as an important prophet, and is referred to by name in the Christian New Testament.
Jonah's Character
Jonah lived during the 8th century B.C., while King Jeroboam II held the throne. In the book of 2 Kings 14:25 Jonah is said to have predicted that King Jeroboam II would recapture territories that had previously been lost. Most of the story of Jonah is contained in the book that carries his name, however. The book of Jonah reveals a man who was a reluctant prophet. He received messages from God, but he was not always excited to deliver those messages to the people who were meant to receive them. Eventually, Jonah did deliver his messages, but sometimes only after some extreme holy intervention.
Jonah's Message
Jonah's most famous direct message was to tell the people of Nineveh that he had received word from God that they would be overthrown. When Nineveh hears Jonah's message, the city believes him and goes into mourning and worships God. God has mercy on Nineveh because of their piety and rescues them from destruction. Aside from the direct message of Jonah, there are several messages that can be learned from his general behavior. Jonah tries again and again to avoid doing the work that God has set him to do, but eventually he is compelled through a miracle to perform his duty.
What Makes Jonah Famous
The book of Jonah tells the story of his attempts to avoid going to Nineveh in great detail. Instead of going to Nineveh directly, Jonah books passage on a ship to Tarshish. God creates a destructive storm that threatens the safety of the ship Jonah is sailing on. When the sailors discover that Jonah is sailing with them in defiance of God, they throw him overboard. Once Jonah is off of the ship, the waters become calm immediately. Jonah is saved from drowning by being swallowed whole by a large fish. He lives in the fish for three days, where he promises God that he will fulfill his duty as a prophet. God causes the fish to spit Jonah out, and Jonah travels to Nineveh as he was supposed to do in the first place.
Where Can You Learn More About Jonah
The best place to learn about Jonah is the Bible's Old Testament. You can learn even more if you research Jonah in the Qur'an and in the Hebrew teachings. The Jewish Encyclopedia and the Catholic Encyclopedia both have extensive chapters dedicated to Jonah. For interpretations of Jonah's life and prophecies, there have been several books written that dissect his contribution to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Most bookstores will have books dealing with Jonah, and a quick online search will also uncover many different resources written from many different perspectives.
