BIBLE STUDY LESSON 20

SERIES P --- YHVH’S PROPHETS

THE FLEEING PROPHET

JONAH IS SWALLOWED BY A GREAT FISH

From Jonah 1-2

Once, long ago, Adonai sent a special message to a prophet named Jonah, the son of Amittai. Here is what Adonai said: [Take this message to the great city of Nineveh and tell them that it is from Adonai. Tell them that Adonai is about to destroy them because of their wickedness, for it has arisen to Me like a foul smell.] Jonah was so afraid to take such a message to Nineveh that he ran away, headed for Tarshish, trying to hide from Adonai. He went overland to the seaport of Joppa, where he paid his fare on a sailing ship headed for Tarshish, and went on board. But along the way a great wind arose and soon a storm battered the ship until it was ready to break apart. The sailors were so afraid that each one cried out to his god. As they did so, they began to throw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. In the meantime, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship to take a nap. When the captain of the ship found Jonah, he scolded him. [Why are you lying there sleeping?] he demanded. [Get up and pray to your YHVH. Perhaps your YHVH will listen and spare us from the storm.] The crew also cast lots to find who had caused such evil to come upon them. At last, the lots pointed to Jonah. [Who are you, and where do you come from?] they demanded. [What is your nationality and your work? And what have you done to bring this great trouble upon us?] [I am a Hebrew,] Jonah answered. [My YHVH is Adonai of heaven and earth, for He made the sea and the dry land.] The men were afraid when they heard this. They realized that Jonah was running away from the YHVH of all heaven and earth. [Why are you doing this?] they asked. [What must be done to you to calm the sea?] As they looked out across the sea, they saw that it was growing even more turbulent. [Throw me into the sea, and the sea will become calm,] Jonah answered. [This storm has come upon you because of me.] However, the men were afraid to throw Jonah into the sea. They pulled harder at the oars, trying to bring the ship to land, but they could make no headway against the turbulent sea. All the time the sea was growing more and more violent. At last, they cried out to Adonai: [Please do not punish us for the death of this man, for we are innocent. You have done something here which You wanted to do.] The sailors lifted Jonah and threw him into the sea. Immediately the sea became calm. The sailors feared Adonai greatly when they saw this. They offered sacrifices to Him and vowed to serve Him. Adonai had already prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. After it did, Jonah spent the next three days and three nights in the belly of the fish. There he prayed earnestly to Adonai. This is Jonah’s prayer:

[In deep trouble, I cried to You, Adonai, and Adonai answered me. Engulfed by death, I called to You, and You heard my plea. You threw me into the depths of the sea until I sank beneath its waters, covered by the wind and waves. I cried out, ‘Adonai, You have turned away from me, so how shall I see Your holy temple again?’ I sank, and the waters closed over me until the sea was everywhere about me. Seaweed wrapped about my head, and I sank to the base of the mountains which are buried beneath the sea. Yet You brought me up from the depths, O Adonai, my YHVH. When all hope for life was gone, I again remembered my Adonai, and my prayer arose to Your holy temple. Those who worship false idols have never known such mercies. But I will offer to You my voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfil every promise that I have made to You, for You alone can deliver.]

Then Adonai spoke to the fish, and it deposited Jonah on dry land.

COMMENTARY

SHIPS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

The Egyptians and Mesopotamians are credited with inventing the boat. The Minoans on the island of Crete excelled as sailors and traders; their conquerors, the Mycenaeans and Greeks, learned the skills from them. Even the Etruscans of Italy marketed their goods abroad. And to the east, the Phoenicians were building more ships, and superior ones, than the Syrians and Philistines. Surprisingly enough, ancient ships did not vary much from culture to culture. A sharper contrast lay between two different types of ancient ships, the merchant ship and the warship. Merchant ships were broad and sturdy, made of durable pine. Big and roomy, they were built to accommodate both goods and passengers. These heavy ships relied on sails and wind power; rowers were used only when necessary. Warships, on the other hand, were made for speed and manoeuvrability. Built of a lighter wood like fir, the warship reached its fullest potential for speed when rowed. Ships duelled in battle, each trying to disable the other with deadly rams jutting out from their bows. The best in battle were the Greeks: their slim, swift warships provided little space for all but the necessities of battle. They sailed near land as much as possible and put into shore for food and a night’s lodging. But whether at peace or war, all ancient sailing was limited to the months of dependable weather, from April to October.