by Ptr. Art Calaguas
Shalom.
Last week, we walked through the verses of the first chapter of the Book of Jonah. I had seen the connection the entire prophetic book during our Wednesday, Mid-Week Prayer Gathering when we all prayed for Israel after the attacks against it by Hamas terrorists from Gaza. But we also prayed for the civilians in Gaza who now suffer in the conflict.
As I write this, amid the flurry of diplomatic visits and unpublicized back-channel efforts, Israel prepares for what looks like to be a massive air, sea and land assault on northern Gaza. The plight of the very many hostages (~200) of many different nationalities taken by Hamas now comes into sharper focus. May the Lord Jesus Christ look after these hostages and keep them safe. May the Lord grant a just end to this war.
In Jonah 1:9, the reluctant, disobedient prophet of the LORD had made his first great confession about his powerful God, “the God of Heaven… who made the sea and dry land” who was causing the storm. Jonah knew he was getting punished for disobeying the LORD. And he felt mercy towards the noble sailors in contrast to his hatred for Nineveh. We finished chapter 1 of Jonah where he was swallowed up by a great κῆτος (Greek “ketos” meaning sea monster/creature) appointed by the LORD, and he stayed 3 days and 3 nights in its belly (verse 17).
Jonah 2 is like a psalm/hymn/song of thanksgiving. Scholars point out that there are many parallels between its verses and the other existing 150 psalms in the Bible’s Book of Psalms (and also other Old Testament [OT] Books). There seems to be an introduction in verse 1 and a conclusion in verse 10 which actually looks more like it can directly follow verse 1. But as it is, Jonah 2:1 and 2:10 serve as the narrative prose book-ends of the psalm-like poetry found in verses 2 – 9.
Verse 1 is straightforward and can be translated as:
And Jonah prayed to the LORD, his God from the belly of the sea monster.
As previously stated, the Hebrew of Jonah 2:1 uses הַדָּגָֽה (דָּגָה “dagah”) while the LXX uses κήτους (from κῆτος “kétos”). While I am translating from the Hebrew, I will continue to use the Greek version for sea monster (“kétos”). This verse is supposed to be a prayer for deliverance by Jonah but as we shall see, the contents show it is more like a psalm of thanksgiving after (or at least, anticipating) his deliverance.
Verse 10 is also straightforward and can be translated as:
And the LORD spoke to the sea monster and it vomited Jonah unto dry land.
The Hebrew of Jonah 2:10 uses לַדָּ֣ג (דָּג “dag”) while the LXX uses κήτει (also from κῆτος “kétos”). Furthermore, the LXX also has a slight variation in that the Greek verse actually reads as:
And it was commanded to the sea monster and it vomited Jonah unto dry land.
Let us now walk through its poetic verses with my formal translation and see the parallels scholars say Jonah 2:2-9 shares with other Psalms.
2And he said: I called out from my tribulation to the LORD and he answered me, from the belly of Sheol I cried; you heard my voice.
“Tribulation” above comes from the Hebrew MT צָרָה “tsarah” and Greek LXX θλῖψις “thlipsis” meaning tribulation or distress. שְׁאוֹל “Sheol” is the Hebrew word for the underworld (of the dead); also for the grave. The LXX uses the word “Hades” here. Commentaries and Study Bibles say verse 2 parallels Psalms 3:4; 18:4-6; 118:5 and 120:1.
3You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the rivers enclosed me; all your billows and your waves passed over me.
Commentaries and Study Bibles point out parallels between verse 3 above and Psalms 42:7; 69:1-2, 14-15 and 88:6-7. It is also pointed out that the use of “your billows” and “your waves” with the possessive pronouns highlight Jonah’s belief that these elements were under the full control of the LORD.
4And I said: I am driven away from your eyes; yet I will again look toward your holy temple.
Psalms 5:7 and 31:22 are paralleled by verse 4 above. Jonah keeps his faith in the LORD.
5Water encompassed me even to (my) soul; the deep enclosed me; reeds bound my head.
Psalms 18:4-5 and 69:1-2 are parallels for verse 5. The realization of impending doom is so palpable to Jonah; water as the agent of death was surrounding his very soul/life. The LXX has a variant in the last clause. Instead of the Hebrew “reeds bound my head” the Greek has “my head sank into the crevices of the mountains” according to the New English Translation of the Septuagint (NETS) translation.
6To the base of the mountains I descended; the earth’s bars forever behind me; but you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.
Jonah 2:6 above has thematic parallels with Psalms 18:5; 88:3-4; and 116:3 regarding death as a descent, and Psalms 16:10 and 30:3 regarding deliverance from Sheol or the “pit.” The Hebrew word for “pit” used in this verse is שַׁחַת (“shachath” also meaning destruction; used in parallel with Sheol). The last clause seems to indicate that the LORD had already saved Jonah from death (in context, after 3 days and nights?).
7When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD; and my prayer came to you, unto your holy temple.
Verse 7 above has parallels in Psalms 18:6; 142:1-3; and 143:4. The idea and the Hebrew words of the phrase “my soul fainted within me” are even the same ones used in Psalms 142:3 and 143:4 (other than רוּחַ “ruach” for “spirit” used in these Psalms instead of נֶפֶשׁ “nephesh” for “soul” in Jonah 2:7).
8They who keep worthless vanities forsake their faithfulness.
The Jewish Study Bible uses the phrase “cling to empty folly.” Both the ESV and NASB Bibles use “regard vain idols.” The Hebrew can certainly mean vain or worthless idols as how it is translated in the NIV and other Bibles. Psalm 31:6 is a parallel. It uses the same Hebrew words underlying “worthless vanities” or “empty folly” or “vain idols” or “worthless idols.”
9But I with a voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; that which I vowed I will make good; salvation (is) of the LORD.
The theme of thanksgiving with corresponding sacrifice in the first clause resonates with Psalm 50:14. The last clause identifying the LORD with salvation is paralleled by Psalms 3:8; 42:5; and 50:23.
Here was Jonah’s second great confession: Salvation (is) of the LORD! And “salvation” is the Hebrew יְשׁוּעָה “yeshuah” from where we get the actual name of our Lord Jesus: “Yeshua.”
We will continue next week.
God bless us all.