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An introduction to the book of Jonah.
Jehovah assigned the prophet Jonah
to deliver a warning
to the Assyrian city of Nineveh.
Jonah prophesied
sometime during the reign
of Israel’s King Jeroboam II.
Jonah wrote the book bearing his name
about 844 B.C.E.
This was about 100 years
before Assyria took Israel into exile
and some 200 years
before Nahum foretold the destruction
of the Assyrian city of Nineveh.
Jonah lived about the time of Amos,
who also prophesied
in the northern kingdom of Israel,
and Joel, who prophesied in Judah.
The book of Jonah has four chapters.
In chapters 1 and 2,
we learn of Jonah
receiving an assignment from Jehovah
to go to Nineveh.
Overwhelmed, Jonah evades the assignment
by boarding a ship headed for Tarshish.
Jehovah causes a terrible storm
to come up at sea.
Jonah knows
that he is responsible for the storm
and tells the sailors to throw him overboard.
When they do, the storm abates.
Jehovah sends a huge fish to swallow Jonah.
From inside the fish’s belly,
Jonah prays to Jehovah,
and his prayer is heard.
Jehovah then commands the fish,
and it vomits Jonah out onto dry land.
Did you know?
Jesus foretold that he would die
and be resurrected on the third day.
He called this
“the sign of Jonah the prophet,”
alluding to Jonah’s deliverance
from the huge fish.
Chapter 3 describes
how Jonah carries out his assignment.
He preaches the message
that Nineveh will soon be overthrown.
To Jonah’s surprise, however,
the Ninevites repent,
and Jehovah mercifully spares them.
Chapter 4 reveals
that instead of rejoicing
over the repentance of the Ninevites,
Jonah becomes angry.
He sets up a shelter outside the city
to see what will happen.
Jehovah uses
a bottle-gourd plant and a worm
to teach Jonah a valuable lesson
in loyal love and mercy.
As you read the book of Jonah,
note how Jonah accepted correction
and fulfilled his assignment,
how Jehovah displayed loyal love and mercy
toward the repentant Ninevites,
and how Jesus used Jonah’s experience
to foretell his own death and resurrection,
which opens the way to everlasting life
under God’s Kingdom.

Introduction to Jonah