Jonah

1

Jonah is told to cry against Nineveh. Instead, he flees on a ship going to Tarshish. The Lord sends a tempest. Jonah is asleep. The mariners cast lots to ascertain who it is who is responsible for the tempest, and realise it is Jonah. Jonah suggests they throw him overboard. The mariners are reluctant to resort to this extreme measure, but do so when the tempest does not abate. They pray that they may not perish because of Jonah as they throw him overboard. The sea is calmed, and a great fish swallows up Jonah, who is in its belly for three days.


2

Jonah prays within the belly of the fish. Psalm-like prayer. ‘Out of the belly of hell I cried, and you heard my voice.’ Jonah describes the waters compassing him about – an image of distress similar to the psalms’ water imagery. The Lord has brought up Jonah’s life from corruption, and Jonah responds with thanksgiving, looking towards God’s holy temple. The fish vomits out Jonah onto dry land.


3

Jonah is again told to cry against Nineveh. He does so, and Nineveh immediately and wholeheartedly repents with ashes and sackcloth. God decides not to destroy Nineveh in the light of this (almost comically swift and absolute) repentance.


4

Jonah is upset about God choosing to not destroy Nineveh. He leaves the city and sits in the hot sun where God causes a plant to grow to provide shade for Jonah. The next day God sends a worm to kill the plant. Jonah then says it would be better for him to die. God questions Jonah’s anger about the death of the plant. God asks him why he thinks a plant should be spared from destruction but a large city like Nineveh should not be saved.