Narrative :: Jonah: Introduction Notes on ch: 1 2 3 4
Study Notes on Jonah (including Hebrew narrative) by Tim Bulkeley
The conventional chapter divisions work well.
Chapter 1 describes of Jonah's receipt of a message, flight and casting into the sea. I have used the English rather than the Hebrew division (Hebrew has 1:17 as part of Chapter 2) because it is familiar, since 1:17 marks a transition between the two the choice is somewhat arbitrary.
Chapter 2 recounts the prayer in the belly of the fish - working better with the Hebrew division giving the chapter a neat inclusion: "Adonai provided a large fish" (1:17) to "Adonai spoke to the fish and it spewed..." (2:10).
Chapter 3 tells of Jonah in Nineveh, opening with a second instruction from God and closing with God "changing his mind".
Chapter 4 focuses on Jonah's consequent dealings with Adonai. Even the conclusion (4:10-11) does not seem distinct from the section of which it is part.
While chapters 2 and 4 tell of Jonah's relationship with God.
What is the relationship between chs. one & three, how
do they differ?
What about two & four?
© Tim Bulkeley, 2003