The fifth book of the Minor Prophets; the thirty-second book of the Old Testament; the thirty-second book of the Bible.
Author: Jonah, named directly in the first verse. Jonah is a unique prophet: he goes to great lengths trying to avoid God’s call. Jonah also responds to the repentance of Nineveh with anger, since he would rather have seen them destroyed.
Audience: Jonah was written both to the Gentile people of Nineveh as well as for the education of the Jewish people. God sent Jonah to preach to the wicked people of Nineveh regarding His upcoming judgment. However, Jonah instead ran from God and experienced his own judgment through being swallowed by a great fish. Jonah prayed and was rescued. He then obeyed the Lord and preached to the people of Nineveh. The people repented and God saved the city from His judgment. Jonah was angry at the Lord’s mercy, yet the Lord reminded him of the importance of the many people in the city who repented. The book also presents repentance by both Jews (Jonah) and Gentiles, revealing God’s compassion on all who repent and turn to Him.
Date: Between approximately 793 and 758 BC.