The Book of Jonah opens abruptly, offering little about the prophet's background. However, we find a crucial reference to him in Kings II 14:23-27. Here, Jonah is identified as the son of Amittai, a prophet from Gath-hepher in the northern kingdom of Israel, serving during Jeroboam II’s reign. Jeroboam’s reign was marked by territorial success but also rampant social injustice, as prophets like Amos and Micah lamented*.
(כג) בִּשְׁנַת֙ חֲמֵשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה לַאֲמַצְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־יוֹאָ֖שׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה מָ֠לַ֠ךְ יָרׇבְעָ֨ם בֶּן־יוֹאָ֤שׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וְאַחַ֖ת שָׁנָֽה׃ (כד) וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יהוה לֹ֣א סָ֗ר מִכׇּל־חַטֹּאות֙ יָרׇבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־נְבָ֔ט אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶחֱטִ֖יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (כה) ה֗וּא הֵשִׁיב֙ אֶת־גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִלְּב֥וֹא חֲמָ֖ת עַד־יָ֣ם הָעֲרָבָ֑ה כִּדְבַ֤ר יהוה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֗ר בְּיַד־עַבְדּ֞וֹ יוֹנָ֤ה בֶן־אֲמִתַּי֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִגַּ֥ת הַחֵֽפֶר׃ (כו) כִּי־רָאָ֧ה יהוה אֶת־עֳנִ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֹרֶ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְאֶ֤פֶס עָצוּר֙ וְאֶ֣פֶס עָז֔וּב וְאֵ֥ין עֹזֵ֖ר לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (כז) וְלֹא־דִבֶּ֣ר יהוה לִמְחוֹת֙ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיּ֣וֹשִׁיעֵ֔ם בְּיַ֖ד יָרׇבְעָ֥ם בֶּן־יוֹאָֽשׁ׃
(23) In the fifteenth year of King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah, King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel became king in Samaria—for forty-one years. (24) He did what was displeasing to GOD; he did not depart from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit. (25) It was he who restored the territory of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the sea of the Arabah, in accordance with the promise that the God of Israel had made through God’s servant, the prophet Jonah son of Amittai from Gath-hepher. (26) For GOD saw the very bitter plight of Israel, with neither bond nor freed, and with none to help Israel. (27) And GOD resolved not to blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; and he delivered them through Jeroboam son of Joash.
Reflection Questions: How does this context shape our understanding of Jonah as a prophet? Does it influence how we view his actions in Sefer Jonah?
Jonah’s role in Kings provides a striking contrast—he supports Jeroboam’s reign despite its moral failings, revealing a complex interplay between divine compassion and justice.
This king’s 41-year rule was marked by military success and territorial expansion, yet he is described as doing "He did what was displeasing to GOD." Despite Jeroboam’s failings, God extends compassion to Israel through Jonah’s prophecy, which ultimately helps restore and extend the nation's borders.
This backdrop challenges our understanding of Jonah as a prophet. While Jeroboam II’s actions drew criticism from other prophets like Amos and Micah, who denounced in the same time period social injustices, Jonah’s presence suggests a different perspective—one in which God’s mercy reaches even those who seem undeserving.
Jonah’s connection to Jeroboam II complicates our reading of his character. He serves during a time when Israel is politically successful but spiritually compromised. The king benefits from Jonah’s prophecy, yet the moral state of the kingdom is deeply flawed. Here, we see a tension: God’s compassion is not reserved for the righteous; it extends to a nation in need, even if their king falls short. This nuance echoes powerfully in Sefer Jonah, where the (Jonah 3-4) might reflect his broader struggle with a world where mercy often overrides strict justice.
Reflection Questions: How does Jonah’s advocacy of God’s compassion in Kings II contrast with his resistance to it in Sefer Jonah? How does this duality affect our view of Jonah? What does it mean for a prophet to advocate for compassion in one context but resist it in another?
As we connect the dots between Kings II and Sefer Jonah, a fuller picture emerges. Jonah is not just a reluctant prophet fleeing from a divine mission; he is part of a larger narrative of God’s unyielding compassion. The historical context of Kings II reveals that Jonah’s prophecy plays a pivotal role in a period of Israel’s history marked by divine intervention on behalf of the people, despite the moral shortcomings of their leadership. This dynamic mirrors Jonah’s (later?) mission to Nineveh, where his internal conflict highlights a universal truth: God’s mercy is boundless, reaching into places and hearts where it is least expected.
* These notes and reflections were inspired by Michael Hattin’s Chumash class at Pardes, delving into the narrative and themes of Sefer Jonah.