BIBLE SUMMARY: JONAH

Book of Jonah Synopsis: Statistics And Summary of Main Topics.

Book of Jonah Chapter by Chapter Summary.

JONAH TOTAL CHAPTERS: 4

JONAH TOTAL VERSES: 48

TOTAL WORDS: 1,321

DATE WRITTEN: 760 BC

AUTHOR: Jonah

JONAH THEME: 

God’s Grace to All People. Salvation Through Repentance. Mercy: God’s compassion extends even beyond what we would like, even to those whom we ourselves show no mercy. 

MAJOR CHARACTERS:

God, Jonah, People and city of Nineveh (capital of Assyria).

BOOK OF JONAH KEY VERSES:

1:3: But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish

1:17: But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

2:2: In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.

3:10: When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened

JONAH SUMMARY

Jonah was a Messanger of God to the Northern Kingdom during the Rule of Jeroboam II in the 7th century BC. That makes Jonah a contemporary of Hosea and Amos. The book is written in the 3rd person, and no author is identified any where in the Bible. Outside the book Jonah is mentioned only in 2 Kings 14:25, Matthew 12:38-41, Matthew 16:4 and 17, and Luke 11:29-32. Jonah was commanded by God to give warning to the city of Nineveh (capital of Assyria) so that people may repent. The book has very little prophecy and is mostly an account about his reluctance as a prophet. It is also a story without beginning or end. In Hebrew the first word is “and”/ “Now” then the book ends with an unanswered question. Jonah is unusual among the prophets in that his message is received and his audience repents. The book starts with God’s order to Jonah to go and preach the people of Nineveh but he was reluctant because they were his enemies and further thinking that they won’t repent. He flees from God, swallowed by a fish repented and thrown out of the belly of fish and out of the sea. He then started preaching Nineveh and warn them of forty days count after which they would get God’s punishment. Hearing this people repented but Jonah after given them the verdict wanted to have destruction upon them. God refused to do so. The book ends with Jonah waiting in vain for Nineveh to be destroyed. However, God uses wind, a gourd and a worm to teach him that He is merciful.

CHAPTER WISE SUMMARY:

#1: Jonah’s Flight. The LORD sent Jonah to Nineveh. Jonah Disobeys. He Flee on a boat toward Tarshish, to get away from God. A storm arose and the men threw Jonah into the sea. Jonah swallowed by a fish and prays To God.
#2: Jonah’s Prayer. He is delivered out of the belly of the fish.
#3: Ninevah’s Repentance. The People Of Nineveh Repent At Jonah’s Proclamation. God changed his mind, and did not destroy Nineveh.
#4: Jonah’s Chagrin. Jonah angry and wanted to die. A plant sheltered Jonah but it died. The LORD said, “Should I not pity Nineveh?