LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Old Testament Exegetical Commentary of Jonah
Submitted
to
Dr. Richard Fuhr
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course
OBST 520 - DO1
Old Testament Orientation 11
by
Barbara Ladson
May 03, 2020
Introduction
The whole picture of Jonah and the whale is a well-known children story by most kids, even
those who did not attend Sunday school somehow learn about the whale swallow Jonah.
Normally this fascinates kids with excitement just to listen about a fish swallowing a man. The
book of Jonah represent the fifth of 12 the Minor Prophets, and the most popular book among
them all because of its fascinated story of the "big fish." The Book of Jonah is not a collection of
prophecy oracles but primarily a narrative about a man. The Jonah name means “dove.” He was
a prophet of God who flees from God’s summons to prophesy against the wickedness of
Nineveh. He was the son of Amittai from Gath Hepher (2 Kings 14:25), from the tribe of
Zebulun (Josh. 19:10, 13). The author is unknown because the book is written in a third person
(cf. Jonah 1:3, 5, 9, 12; 2:1; 3:4; 4:1, 5, 8-9).
The presentation of this paper will outline each chapter of the book on Jonah's encounter
with God after refusing to deliver the message to Nineveh, the violent storm, in the whale's belly,
repented and survived, God's deliver message and the repentance of Nineveh.
Historical Background
