notes on jonah 1:1 -6
Jonah 1:1-6 talks about Jonah being called by God to go and deliver a message to the city of Nineveh. Here are some notes on these verses:
1. Jonah was a prophet from the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:25). He was likely quite well-known and respected as a prophet in his time.
2. In verse 1, the Word of the Lord comes to Jonah, instructing him to go to the great city of Nineveh to pronounce judgment against it. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for their wickedness and cruelty.
3. However, instead of obeying God's command, Jonah tries to flee from God's presence and goes in the opposite direction by boarding a ship headed for Tarshish (verse 3). Tarshish is believed to be in modern-day Spain, indicating Jonah's intention to distance himself as far as possible from Nineveh.
4. In verse 4, a great storm arises while Jonah is on the ship. The storm is so intense that it threatens to break the ship apart. This storm is seen as a direct result of Jonah's attempt to flee from God's command.
5. The sailors on the ship, who are pagans, start praying to their gods and throwing cargo overboard to lighten the ship (verse 5). Meanwhile, Jonah is found sleeping in the belly of the ship.
6. The ship's captain wakes Jonah up and tells him to call on his God for help, implying that they have exhausted all other options (verse 6). This shows that the sailors recognized that Jonah's God was powerful and had the ability to save them from the storm.
In summary, Jonah is called by God to deliver a message to Nineveh, but instead tries to flee from God's command. He faces a great storm while on a ship headed for Tarshish, and the sailors, recognizing the power of Jonah's God, ask him to pray for deliverance.
Jonah 1:1-6 recounts the beginning of the story of the prophet Jonah, and here is a breakdown of these verses:
1. Verse 1: "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying," - This verse introduces the prophet Jonah, identifying him as the son of Amittai. It also states that Jonah received a message from the Lord.
2. Verse 2: "‘Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.’" - In this verse, God commands Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to deliver a message of warning regarding their wickedness. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian empire, known for its cruelty and sinfulness.
3. Verse 3: "But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord." - Unlike the obedient prophets before him, Jonah decides to flee from God's command. Instead of going to Nineveh, he heads to Tarshish, which represents the opposite direction from Nineveh. Jonah seeks to escape from the presence of the Lord.
4. Verse 4: "But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a mighty storm came upon the sea that the ship threatened to break up." - As Jonah boards the ship heading to Tarshish, God sends a powerful storm upon the sea. The storm is so intense that the ship itself is at risk of sinking.
5. Verse 5: "Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten it for them. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold of the ship and had lain down, and was fast asleep." - The sailors on the ship, terrified by the storm, start calling out to their respective gods for help. In an attempt to save the ship, they throw the cargo overboard. Meanwhile, Jonah is sleeping peacefully in the ship's hold.
6. Verse 6: "The captain came and said to him, 'What are you doing sound asleep? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps the god will spare us a thought so that we do not perish.'" - The captain of the ship discovers Jonah sleeping and wakes him up. He urges Jonah to pray to his own god, hoping that the god may intervene and save them from the dangerous storm.
These are the key highlights of Jonah 1:1-6, setting the stage for the events that follow in the rest of the book of Jonah.
To provide you with notes on Jonah 1:1-6, I will explain the context of the book of Jonah and then analyze the specific verses you mentioned.
The book of Jonah is one of the 12 Minor Prophets in the Old Testament of the Bible. It tells the story of a prophet named Jonah who is commanded by God to go to the city of Nineveh and preach against its wickedness. However, Jonah initially tries to flee from God's command and finds himself in a series of extraordinary events.
Now, let's delve into the verses you mentioned, Jonah 1:1-6:
1. Jonah 1:1 - "The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai:"
- This verse introduces us to the prophet Jonah, identifying his father as Amittai. It also states that Jonah has received a message or command from the Lord.
2. Jonah 1:2 - "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because its wickedness has come up before me."
- God instructs Jonah to go to Nineveh, a significant city in ancient Assyria, and deliver a message of condemnation against its wickedness. This verse highlights the reason behind God's command.
3. Jonah 1:3 - "But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD."
- Here, we see that rather than obeying God's command, Jonah tries to escape from it. He flees in the opposite direction, towards the city of Tarshish, instead of going to Nineveh. He pays for a ticket and boards a ship to Tarshish, effectively trying to run away from God's presence.
4. Jonah 1:4 - "Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up."
- As Jonah sails away, God responds by sending a powerful storm on the sea. The storm becomes so fierce that the ship is in danger of being destroyed. This event demonstrates God's power and His pursuit of Jonah.
5. Jonah 1:5-6 - "All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. The captain went to him and said, 'How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.'"
- In the midst of the storm, the sailors on the ship are terrified and begin praying to their respective gods for salvation. They also lighten the ship by throwing its cargo overboard. Meanwhile, Jonah goes below deck and falls into a deep sleep. The captain, worried about their current situation, wakes Jonah up and urges him to call upon his God for help, hoping to avoid the impending disaster.
This completes the analysis of Jonah 1:1-6, providing an overview of the events described in these verses. Feel free to ask further questions or delve into specific aspects if you'd like more information!