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Jonah is the protagonist of the Book of Jonah. A reluctant prophet, he tried to avoid his instruction to prophecy destruction to Nineveh. He fleed by boat but was tossed overboard during a storm and swallowed by a great fish. After being saved by God, he went to Nineveh, whose people heeded his warnings and repented.
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Jonah's Flight and the Storm
TANAKH
Jonah's attempt to flee from God's command and the dramatic events that follow highlight the themes of divine mission, human reluctance, and the power of repentance. The Book of Jonah, one of the Minor Prophets, begins with Jonah's flight from God's command, leading to a stormy sea voyage and his eventual declaration of faith to the sailors.
Jonah's Flight and the Levels of Prophecy
CHASIDUT
Jonah's flight from God is rooted in a profound understanding of the levels of prophecy and the Divine Presence. In the kabbalistic work Sha'ar HaEmunah VeYesod HaChasidut, Rabbi Gershon Chanokh Leiner of Radzin explores Jonah's belief that prophecy comes from "before" the shekhina, not directly from it.
Jonah's Dilemma
COMMENTARY
Jonah feared being labeled a false prophet and causing a desecration of God's name if his prophecy did not come true. This contemporary commentary explores Jonah's motivations and the high value placed on the integrity of prophecy and the sanctity of God's name in Jewish tradition.
The Trickery of Nineveh
TALMUD
The people of Nineveh's repentance may have been more about manipulating God's mercy than genuine remorse. The Jerusalem Talmud offers a critical perspective on the sincerity of Nineveh's repentance as described in the book of Jonah.
A Lesson in Compassion
LITURGY
God uses the metaphor of the kikayon plant to teach Jonah about compassion and the value of all life. The Book of Jonah is read during the Mincha service on Yom Kippur to emphasizs themes of repentance and divine mercy.
Prophecy as a Warning
COMMENTARY
Prophecy in the book of Jonah is not about predicting the future but about warning to change the present. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explains the distinction between prophecy and prediction, using the story of Jonah to illustrate how prophecies are meant to avert disaster through repentance.
Jonah's Struggle with Forgiveness
COMMENTARY
Jonah struggles with the idea that a simple change of heart can absolve a sinful city from their deserved punishment. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in his series Covenant and Conversation, delves into the book of Jonah, exploring themes of repentance and divine mercy.
Mercy Through Repentance
COMMENTARY
God's mercy on the people of Nineveh was based on their repentance rather than the innocence of youths and animals. Don Isaac Abarbanel, a 15th-century Jewish scholar, provides a thought-provoking commentary on the book of Jonah, which is traditionally read on Yom Kippur.
Repentance and Good Deeds
TALMUD
Atonement for sins is achieved through genuine repentance and good deeds, rather than through external rituals like sackcloth and fasting. The Talmudic tractate Taanit emphasizes the importance of inner transformation over mere outward signs of mourning for achieving atonement, bringing support from the book of Jonah.
Jonah's Flight and the Divine Presence
MIDRASH
Jonah fled to avoid making Israel liable by contrast to the gentiles who are close to repentance. The Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, an early halachic midrash, uses Jonah's story to discuss the Shechinah's connection to the Land of Israel.
The Protective Fish
COMMENTARY
The fish was sent by God to protect Jonah, even though Jonah defied God by suppressing the prophecy given to him. The Book of Jonah, traditionally read during Yom Kippur, emphasizes themes of repentance and divine mercy.
 Kennicott Bible, folio 305r - Jonah being swallowed by the fish. 1476
Kennicott Bible, folio 305r - Jonah being swallowed by the fish. 1476
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