Jonah identifies himself in verse one as the son of Amittai. In this book, that is the entirety of his personal information. However, this identification confirms that he is the prophet also of II Kings 14:25-27 where further information can be gleaned. In addition to the name of his father, it is stated that he was from Gath-heper, a town three miles northeast of Nazareth in Galilee. But the most drawing fact found is that he prophesied in the days of Jereoboam II’s reign in Israel. This knowledge gives the ability to date the life and work of Jonah, which history would indicate to between 790 and 750 B.C. Therefore he lived and worked just decades prior to Israel’s eventual demise at the hands of Assyria. And lo and behold, to whom does Jonah prophesy? Assyria.
It is widely recognized as stated by the text that Jonah was commissioned by God to go down to Nineveh and preach repentance to the dwellers of the city. However, what often is not likewise provided is the knowledge that Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria. Knowing this, allows a hint of understanding as to Jonah’s hesitancy in going to condemn these people. This is not said to justify Jonah’s rebellion against God, but to simply recognize the possible reasons that are not stated in the book itself. Assyria was a people well know world-wide for their cruelty toward their enemies. Rex A. Turner, Sr. recorded that,
“Assyrians found satisfaction in torturing captives, in blinding children before the eyes of their parents, in flaying men alive, in wasting them in kilns, in chaining them in cages for the amusement of the population, and then sending the survivors off to execution.”
Proof of such inhuman treatment has been proven by carvings found at Nineveh that show men being impaled, flayed, and having their tongues torn out. In fact, Turner records one that “shows a king gouging out the eyes of prisoners with a lance while he holds their heads completely in place with a cord passed through their lips.” To say the least, the Assyrians were cruel and ferocious in their dealings with enemies. Now with this background information one can see the basis upon which Jonah made his decision to forsake God and flee to Tarshish.
Perhaps one of the greatest controversies surrounding Jonah’s record is the contention among many who say that it is merely fictional because the events recorded are impossible. The argument is that a man could not be swallowed by a creature no matter the size and survive three days and nights inside, therefore these writings are just allegorical concerning the nation of Israel. However, two facts overrule any argument man may use to discredit this book. First, with God all things are possible. In the natural realm it may not be possible for this event to have happened (speaking for myself, I do not know). However, Jonah 1:17 instructs the reader that “…the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.” Therefore because God prepared it, it was possible. Second, though, is the fact that Christ drew on this event in Jonah’s life to explain to his disciples how that Jonah’s presence in that fish three days and nights foreshadowed Christ being in the earth (buried) three days and nights. For Christ to draw upon an example that was merely figurative would have been without merit, for if Jonah’s presence in the fish was only figurative so then would Christ’s. Such is utter foolishness because just as Christ was in the earth, so then was Jonah in the fish. Jonah’s account is absolute historical truth!
As with all Bible books, the importance lies within Christ and redemption through Him being related within it. And as was stated above, Christ is very much pictured in Jonah. “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here” (Matthew 12:40-41).
The unjustifiable wrong performed by Jonah is so well known, but not easily avoided. We all have our own “Nineveh’s” in life that sometimes contrary to the will of God we attempt to avoid. Let us rather learn from Jonah’s mistake and march boldly forth into battle for the great King of our souls.