JONAH

One of the minor prophets, was a native of Gath-hepher, in Zebulun, 2Ki 14:25. Being ordered of God to prophesy against Ninevah, probably in or before the reign of Jeroboam 2, which begun 825 B. C., he endeavored to avoid the command by embarking at Joppa for Tarshish, in order to fly as far as possible in the opposite direction. But being overtaken by a storm, he was thrown overboard at his own request, and miraculously preserved by being swallowed by a large fish. See WHALE. Several Greek and Roman legends seem to have been borrowed from this source. After three days, typical of our Savior’s stay in the tomb, the fish cast Jonah out upon the shore; the word of the Lord a second time directed him to go to Nineveh, and he obeyed. The allusions of the narrative to the vast extent and population of this city, are confirmed by other ancient accounts and by modern investigations. See NINEVEH. At the warning word of the prophet, the Ninevites repented, and the destruction threatened was postponed; but the feelings of Jonah at seeing his predictions unfulfilled and the enemies of God’s people spared, rendered necessary a further exercise of the forbearance of God. See GOURD. The literal truth of the narrative is established by our Savior’s repeated quotations, Mt 12:39-41 16:4 Lu 11:29-32. It is highly instructive, as showing that the providential government of God extends to all heathen nations, and that his grace has never been confined to his covenant people.

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Jonah. Jonah
A dove, the son of Amittai of Gath-hepher. He was a prophet of Israel, and predicted the restoration of the ancient boundaries (2 Kings 14:25-27) of the kingdom. He exercised his ministry very early in the reign of Jeroboam II., and thus was contemporary with Hosea and Amos; or possibly he preceded them, and consequently may have been the very oldest of all the prophets whose writings we possess. His personal history is mainly to be gathered from the book which bears his name. It is chiefly interesting from the two-fold character in which he appears, (1) as a missionary to heathen Nineveh, and (2) as a type of the “Son of man.”

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Jonah. or Jonas, a dove; he that oppresses; destroyer

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JONAH. → Also called JONAS → A prophet of Israel 2Ki 14:25 → Sent by God to warn the city of Nineveh Jon 1:1,2 → Disobedience and punishment of Jon 1:3-17 → Repentance and deliverance of Jon 2; Mt 12:40 → Brought Ninevites to repentance Jon 3; Mt 12:41 → Displeased with God's mercy to Nineveh -Reproved Jon 1:4 → Is a sign Mt 16:4; Lu 11:29,30

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Jo″nah (?), n. The Hebrew prophet, who was cast overboard as one who endangered the ship; hence, any person whose presence is unpropitious. Jonah crab (Zoöl.), a large crab (Cancer borealis) of the eastern coast of the United States, sometimes found between tides, but usually in deep water.