Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God

1. Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh Jonah Runs From Yahweh Prays to Yahweh Preaches for Yahweh Learns From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer from The Fish Angry at Mercy Qs On Plants & People Jonah Over board Ninev. & God Repent Flight from Yhwh Asleep in Yhwh’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11

2. Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh Jonah Runs From Yahweh Prays to Yahweh Preaches for Yahweh Learns From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer fromThe Fish Angry at Mercy Qs On Plants & People Jonah Over board Ninev. & God Repent Flight from Yhwh Asleep in Yah’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11 1.1 2.1 2.10 4.11 Poetry -Prayer Prose Narrative Prose Narrative 2.2 - 9 Genre- Literary Type & Genre. 1. Prose Narrative Dominates, Carries Entire Story. 1.1-2.1; 2.10-4.11 • Prayer in Poetic Form, (2.2-9) Stands Out by Literary Contrast. Story could perhaps proceed from 2.1, 2.10 w/o loss? 2. Genre of Chapter 2 Prayer? Sounds Like Prayers Promising to Pay Vows. cf. Ps 116 and 69.1-3. Other than confession of sin (cf. Ps. 25; 38; 39; 51; 130)

3. 1.1-3a Orders “Arise, Go” Destination “Nineveh” Message “Cry Against” Response Jonah Flees 3.1-3a “Arise, Go…” “Nineveh” “Proclaim” Jonah Goes As Commanded vs Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to Yahweh C. Preaches for Yahweh D. Learns D. From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer fr. The Fish Angry at Mercy Qss. On Plants & People Jonah Overboard Ninev. & God Repent Flight fr. Yah. Asleep in Yah’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11 1. Recurrence of Jonah’s Call Nearly Verbatim Rep. With Obvious Contrast = = = But

4. Interpretive Questions: 1 What is involved in the obvious repetitions and similarities and in the striking contrast at the point of Jonah’s response? (D) 2 What do these similarities and this contrast mean? 3 Why are these matters thus repeated and why the clear contrast? Why does Jonah flee and then obey? 4 What are the full implications of these things? Strategic Passage(s): 1.3 & 3.3 where the contrast is pitched. Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to Yahweh C. Preaches for Yahweh D. Learns D. From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer fromThe Fish Angry at Mercy Qss. On Plants & People Jonah Overboard Ninev. & God Repent Flight from Yhwh Asleep in Yah’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11 1. Recurrence of Jonah’s Call

5. Story radically reversed at 3.10. No previous indication of rescue explicit. Destruction presumed. This assumption reversed at 3.10 when God “sees”, “repents” and “does not do.” •Causes for the change include: - God’s Action and Attitude - Nineveh’s Response - Jonah’s Actions With emphasis on God’s role. Strategic Passage: 3.10 the point of clear reversal and exp. of major cause. Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to Yahweh C. Preaches for Yahweh D. Learns D. From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer fr. The Fish Angry at Mercy Qss. On Plants & People Jonah Overboard Ninev. & God Repent Flight fr. Yah. Asleep in Yah’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11 2. Cruciality (Pivot) 3.10

6. Interpretive Questions: 1. What is involved in those events concerned with the judgment of Nineveh on the one hand and her salvation on the other? In the crux passage itself? 2. What is the meaning of the major elements involved, e.g., “turn from evil way,” “repent/relent of evil”? 3. What is the meaning of the causes and results involved in this pivot? 4. Why does the narrative pivot on Yahweh’s “repentance”? 5. What is implied by these matters? Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to Yahweh C. Preaches for Yahweh D. Learns D. From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer fr. The Fish Angry at Mercy Qss. On Plants & People Jonah Overboard Ninev. & God Repent Flight fr. Yah. Asleep in Yah’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11 2. Cruciality at 3.10

7. 4.2-11 Causes - The Character, Attitudes Which Account for, Produce, Explain These Actions. 1.1-4.1 Effects- The Actions of Jonah & Yahweh Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh Reasons for Actions Actions of Yahweh & Jonah A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to Yahweh C. Preaches for Yahweh D. Learns D. From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer fr. The Fish Angry at Mercy Qss. On Plants & People Jonah Overboard Ninev. & God Repent Flight fr. Yah. Asleep in Yah’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11 3. Substantiation (Effect-Cause) Strategic Passage4.2, Where the core explanation appears.

8. Interpretive Questions: 1 What is involved in the actions of Yahweh and of Jonah (effects) and in the causes that produced them as told in 4.2ff.? 2 What is the meaning of the major elements involved in these causes & effects ? 3 Why are the actions of Yahweh and Jonah explained by ref. to their inner life - what Jonah knew about Yahweh’s character? 4 Full implications? Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to Yahweh C. Preaches for Yahweh D. Learns D. From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer fr. The Fish Angry at Mercy Qss. On Plants & People Jonah Overboard Ninev. & God Repent Flight fr. Yah. Asleep in Yah’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11 3. Substantiation 4.2

9. 1 Action of Yahweh in Creation. 1.4 (hurled), (9), (appointed); 1:17; 4:6 (appt), 7 (appt), 8(appt), 9, 10, 11 2 Mercy of Yahweh. 1.14-17; 2.9-10; 3.10; 4.2-11 3 Prayer, Fast, Offering, Etc. 1.14, 6; 2.1-9; 3.8-10?; 4.2ff. Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to Yahweh C. Preaches for Yahweh D. Learns D. From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer fr. The Fish Angry at Mercy Qss. On Plants & People Jonah Overboard Ninev. & God Repent Flight fr. Yah. Asleep in Yah’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11 4. Recurring Themes & Vocabulary 4 Vocabulary “Appoint” - 1:17;4:6, 7, 8 “Great” 1.2,42, 10, 12,16; 2.1; 3.2; 4.1, 6, 11 “Evil” 1.2, 7, 8; 3.8, 102; 4.1, 6, “Call” 1.7, 6, 14; 2.3; 3.2, 4, 5, 8

10. Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh 4.10-11 A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to Yahweh C. Preaches for Yahweh D. Learns D. From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer fr. The Fish Angry at Mercy Qss. On Plants & People Jonah Overboard Ninev. & God Repent Flight fr. Yah. Asleep in Yah’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11 5. Climax at 4.10-11of the Merciful Acts of Yahweh (in contr. to Jonah)in Response to and in interaction with persons (often involving nature) With Interrogation! as response to Yahweh’s question falls into hands of reader as well as Jonah. Strategic Passage: 4.10-11 Where theme reaches final most poignant expression.

11. 1.1-2, 4, 9, 15-14, 17; 2.10; 3.1-2, 10; 4.3-4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-11 1 More than non-distinctive causation involved in all narrative. Role of Yahweh too prominent to dismiss as routine. 2 Theme of mercy/compassion built here. 3 Does not contradict the pivot at 3.10 since scope of mercy much larger than Nineveh -- Jonah & the mariners. Strategic Passages: 4.10-11 Where theme reaches final expression. Jonah: Prophet’s Argument With God II. Labor & Lesson In Nineveh I. Jonah’s Flight From Yahweh 4.10-11 A. Jonah Runs From Yahweh B. Prays to Yahweh C. Preaches for Yahweh D. Learns D. From Yahweh Jonah Preaches in Nineveh Prayer fr. The Fish Angry at Mercy Qss. On Plants & People Jonah Overboard Ninev. & God Repent Flight fr. Yah. Asleep in Yah’s Storm Jonah’s Lot 1.1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 17 2.1 - 2.10 3.1 - 5 6 - 10 4.1 - 5 6 - 11 E. Climax of the Merciful Acts of Yahweh in Response to and in interaction with persons (often involving nature) at 4.10-11, With Interrogation!

12. Jonah Book Survey 5.Other Major Impressions a. Form of Chapter 2 signif. Does not seem to be either confession (cf. Ps 51) or repentance (cf. Chap. 3). Rather = typical song of praise for deliverance with promise to pay vows (2.9). Cf. Pss. 22; 61; 66; 116. b. Genre of Book 1. Straight forward “biographic” narrative? 2. “Historical novel”? 3. Story based on real Prophet?

13. Jonah Book Survey Higher Critical Data a. Centers on Jonah Ben-Amittai. Known elsewhere from 2 Kings 14.25 • Delivers Pro-Israel, Anti-Assyrian message under Jeroboam II, 780’s-40’s. b. Appears to be literary unit, except Ch. 2. c. Story unaffected by jump from 2.1 to 2.10 but not necessarily simple “addition.” If editorial addition, what implication? d. “Author” unnamed.

14. Jonah Book Survey Higher Critical Data e. Audience - Needing emphasis on - Yahweh’s universal compassion - Openness to “enemy” & the nations - Struggles of prophet/prophecy under Yahweh - Sovereignty of Yahweh & problems of living with that as Yahweh’s servant?