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The Book of
Jonah
A prophet runs from God’s mission, is turned around, and ends up confronting how far God’s mercy is willing to go.
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How to read Jonah
Read Jonah as a tightly told story built around repeated scenes and sharp contrasts: prophet vs. sailors, prophet vs. Nineveh, Jonah’s comfort vs. God’s concern. Track what God “appoints” and listen for the questions that expose Jonah’s values.
Context
Big idea and book facts
Jonah resists God’s command to warn Nineveh, but God relentlessly pursues both the runaway prophet and the threatened city. The story exposes how divine compassion can offend human pride, especially toward enemies.
- Author
- Jonah son of Amittai (traditional association)
- Date
- Assyrian setting, commonly placed in the 8th century BC
- Location
- Israel/Judah
- Audience
- Israel and Judah learning God's mercy toward the nations
- Genre
- Prophetic narrative