Jonah

Jonah 3:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, Jonah 3:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you." Jonah 3:3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days' walk. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria and was situated on the eastern bank of the Tigris River. It was about 280 miles north of Babylon and 400 miles N.E. of Damascus. Some historians say it was much larger than Babylon. The circuit of Nineveh is estimated at 385 furlongs or over 48 miles around. According to the first century BC Greek historian, Diodorus Siculus, it was an oblong parallelogram, extending 150 furlongs in length and 90 furlongs in breadth, and 480 furlongs in circumference. Which computes to about 20 miles long, 12 miles broad, and 60 miles in compass. This agrees with the account given here of its being "an exceeding great city of three days' journey," in circuit. 20 miles a day was the common computation for a pedestrian. It was surrounded by large walls 100 feet high. They are said to have been so broad that three chariots could drive abreast on them. The city was defended by 1,500 towers 200 feet in height. Jonah 3:4 Then Jonah began to go through the city one day's walk; and he cried out and said, "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." Jonah has just spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale and probably looked like a walking skeleton. At the very least, his skin would have been completely bleached and rotten. That would give credence to his message and Who it came from. All we are told of Jonah's message is "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." This is probably just a summation of his message. The questions of "Why?" and "What must we do to stop this?" are not answered with those few words. It is likely that Jonah was told to tell them what do to to prevent their destruction, which is to turn to the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and embrace His ways. Elohim promises that if a nation that He has said will be destroyed turns from their evil ways and turns to Him, He will relent from their destruction. Assyria did, but Judah did not in the days of Jeremiah (Jer 18:7-13). It is likely that Elohim had Jonah go to the most evil Empire in the history of mankind (in that day) to call them to repentance and to show Israel that He would indeed, do the same for them. Elohim would relent from destroying Israel also, that is, if they turn back to Him in repentance.

Jonah 1:17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. First of all, do not argue with Christians over whether this was a whale or a fish. Scripture does not really differentiate between the two as our biological classifications do. Scripture puts whales in the same classification as fish. Modern biology puts whales in the classifications as moo-cows and kitty cats. There are some apparent historical records of men being swallowed by whales and surviving. They are doubtful and should be looked at with skepticism. The fact of the matter is that we are not looking at a man who survived in the belly of a whale for three days and three nights. We are looking here at a resurrection from the dead. Jonah 2:1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, "But if he died, how was he praying?" Well, this was obviously right after the whale or fish swallowed him. How long would it take you to start praying if you were swallowed up by a big whale? Jonah 2:2 and he said, "I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; Thou didst hear my voice. Jonah's prayer incorporates the language and flow of the Psalms, which Jonah probably knew very well. This verse is similar to Psalm 18:4-6. Jonah 2:3 "For Thou hadst cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Thy breakers and billows passed over me. Jonah acknowledges that his punishment came from Elohim. This verse is similar to Psalm 42:7. Jonah 2:4 "So I said, 'I have been expelled from Thy sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Thy holy temple.' This verse is similar to Psalm 5:7 and 31:22. Jonah 2:5 "Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. This verse is similar to Psalm 69:1-2. Jonah 2:6 "I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But Thou hast brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. This verse is similar to Psalm 18:16 and 30:3 Jonah 2:7 "While I was fainting away, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer came to Thee, Into Thy holy temple. This verse is similar to Psalm 18:6. Jonah 2:8 "Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness, This verse is similar to Psalm 31:6. Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice to Thee With the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the LORD." This verse is similar to Psalm 50:14, 23, 116:17. Jonah 2:10 Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land. Then, after what appears to be three days and three nights later, Elohim commands the whale or fish to vomit Jonah up on dry land. This was probably on the coast of Palestine. River Valley Torah Assembly