Jonah 1
THE prophecy of Jonah, it has been remarked, has, like the Epistle of James in the New Testament, a peculiar place, a special character. Jonah, unlike his fellow prophets, in the prophecy before us, was sent to Gentiles with a message from God. That he also served his Master among the ten tribes of Israel is witnessed, though briefly, in 2 Kings 14:25,25He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher. (2 Kings 14:25) where also it is shown that he was, contrary to the word of the chief priests and Pharisees in John 7:52,52They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. (John 7:52) a Galilean, for Gath-hepher (called Gittah-hepher in Joshua 19:1313And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon-methoar to Neah; (Joshua 19:13)) was in the land of Zebulun, not far, it is thought, from the New Testament town of Cana.
The precise time of Jonah’s prophecy has not been determined, it was, it is believed, somewhere between the years 840 and 775, B. C., while Amaziah or Uzziah was king of Judah, and Jeroboam II ruled the ten tribes. Opinions differ as to who was the Assyrian king mentioned in the prophecy. These questions are of little importance; it is enough for the Christian that Jonah lived, and that the book before us is part of God’s own Word (Matthew 12:39-4139But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. (Matthew 12:39‑41); Luke 11:29-3229And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. 30For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. 31The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 32The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. (Luke 11:29‑32)).
The history of Israel—the whole people of 12; tribes—during and after the later years of Solomon’s reign was marked by great decline before God, as we have had much occasion already to notice; and as His earthly people declined, He allowed Assyria to rise to an important place in the world of that day, and used the nation for the chastening of His earthly people, We need not wonder then, that Jonah (chapter 4:2) did not wish to carry a message to Nineveh, Assyria’s capital city, particularly as he thought, and rightly, that if they repented, God would be merciful, and would spare the Ninevites from the overwhelming judgment promised them. The mercy of God cannot be reserved to one race or nation (Acts 10:34, 3534Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:34‑35)), though favored Israel wished to limit Him to their own borders (Luke 4:25-2925But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 28And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. (Luke 4:25‑29)). Accordingly, when His hand must soon fall upon the great city (of that day) He will first warn them; perhaps they will heed His word, though Israel had not done so.
Jonah should go east; he will go west, and he finds his way to Joppa. His course is an easy one, at first. A ship was there to take him far away, and he had the fare for the voyage “from the presence of the Lord” (verse 3). But circumstances, without God’s approval of one’s course, are a poor guide. One had His eyes on His self-willed servant, and he presently provided a great wind, so that a mighty tempest developed, and the ship was in much danger. The shipmen, accustomed to storms, were afraid in this one, yet Jonah slumbered on, and the commander had to arouse him, to join the crew in praying, each man to his god. Lots were cast, and God used this means of pointing out Jonah as the cause of the storm,
Now at last (verse 9) Jonah’s mouth was opened to testify for the true God, Maker of sea and land, although in doing so he had to tell of his own guilty conduct. Thus was Jehovah made known to some who knew Him not, and from verses 18 to 10 we may gather that they put their trust in Him. Thus even the willfulness of one of His children is made to serve His purposes.
A great fish was prepared by God to swallow Jonah, and in its belly he remained three days and three nights. It may have been a species of whale; the Greek word translated “whale” in Matthew 12:4040For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40) really means a sea monster or great fish.
ML 02/28/1937