The Book of Jonah (Hebrew: Sefer Yonah) is one of the Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible. It tells the story of a Hebrew prophet named Jonah ben Amittai who is sent by God to prophesy the destruction of Nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission. Set in the reign of Jeroboam II (786-746 BC), it was probably written in the post-exilic period, sometime between the late fifth to early fourth century BC. The story has an interesting interpretive history (see below) and has become well-known through popular children's stories. In Judaism it is the Haftarah for the afternoon of Yom Kippur due to its story of God's willingness to forgive those who repent.
Read more about Book Of Jonah: Narrative, Jonah and The Big Fish, Jonah's Prayer, Jonah and The Gourd Vine, Popular Culture
Famous quotes containing the words book of, book and/or jonah:
“In the Corner Store, near the village center, hangs a large sign reading: ‘After 40 years of credit business, we have closed our book of Sorrow.’”
—For the State of Maine, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“I can’t bear art that you can walk round and admire. A book should be either a bandit or a rebel or a man in the crowd.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“Why need Christians be still intolerant and superstitious? The simple-minded sailors were unwilling to cast overboard Jonah at his own request.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)