Jonah

* 1000 BCE - Earliest written Paleo-Hebrew language
* 824 - 783 BCE - Queen of Assyria, Shammuramat (legend of Semiramis)
* 781 BCE - King Amaziah of Judah restored boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea
* 700/1 BCE - Assyrian King Sennacherib beautifies Nineveh and invades Jaffa
* 612 BCE - Nineveh is sacked and King Sinsharishkun dies

**Jonah** is mentioned in 2 Kings as a prophet during the fifteenth year of the reign of King Amaziah (2 Kings 14:23-25). This would place Jonah's life to being born c. 820 BCE and d. 740 BCE. In Israel, Jonah lived under the rule of Jehoash of Israel, a two part kingdom with Judah. When King Amaziah of Judah came into his fifteenth year of rule, Jonah had a say in the border restoration of the coast of Israel. Amaziah ruled Judah from 796–767 BCE. Jonah also witnessed the Assyrian Empire under the influential queen Shammuramat (legend of Semiramis), whose reign was 824 - 783 BCE.

**c. 780 BCE**

And God became upset with the city of Nineveh, because they were acting ruinously. So he called for Jonah of Gath-hepher, to proclaim God’s wrath. “Oh, who me?” Says Jonah. “Lord? You want me to go to Ninevah? And say what? Death and Destruction? Uh, sure. I’m right on that. You just stay right there.” So Jonah left his hometown, and headed south to the major seaport of Jaffa (in Tel-Aviv). It was about a days journey on foot (100km / 60 miles). Jonah paid the fair for Sardinia (Italy) of Tarshish; rather than going East to Ninevah (Babylon, Iraq).

Jonah mumbled to himself boarding the sea ship, “Uh, Yeah right. Ninevah. Are you kidding me? What do I look like? A preacher? A prophet? A pastor?” Manages his belongings, “Yep. I’m going below deck. This a nice dark spot. You guys up above can figure out what you all need to do. I’m going to sleep right here.”

After disembarking, and treading through deep waters, the sea ship is caught in a massive and terrible storm. It awakens Jonah, “Oh my God what is all that racket? Can’t I get any sleep around here?”

The ship’s men above, mostly Phoenicians, are in a frenzy. “We are going to die! This storm is going to tear us apart! Who is responsible for all this?” Everyone begins praying. But Jonah sneers. Rolls his eyes, and tries to go back to sleep.

“Jonah?” The Lord says in Jonah’s sleep. “I asked you to do something and instead you ran the other way. I have a problem in Nineveh and I am relying on you to carry out your mission. You think it’s impossible? I will show you impossible. Throw yourself into the sea, and see if I do not save you.”

The men see Jonah awake. “Who are you?” They inquire. Jonah looks down, “I am a Hebrew (Jonah 1:9). My Lord, God of the Sea, has caused this storm. Throw me into the sea and see if you are not saved.”

They hesitated. But the storm was so great. Stress and fear was so high. “O Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man.” They then took Jonah and threw him overboard. Immediately the storm abated.

Jonah sank into the sea. He looked above surrounded by water. Bubbles escaping from his mouth. His lungs began to hurt. He thought he was sure to die. He never experienced this kind of darkness before. He was aware of sea creatures of the deep. “I hate you, Lord. My final thoughts of you are hate. Why are killing me?” He says in his mind.

“Jonah?” The Lord says, “Before you know what is right, you must experience the darkness. Yes, even hell itself. I am going to breath air into your lungs and you shall remain in darkness for three days. Three days shall you remain in hell.”

Jonah was kept alive (Matthew 12:40) and found himself on the shores of the Persian Gulf, (today near southern Iraq). Invigorated by his encounter with God, he reaches Nineveh and proclaims the Word of Lord.

The King of Nineveh repents and asks of all his citizens to repent from their evil ways. Thus God's wrath is postponed. But Jonah became upset, thinking that he had gone through all this trouble, and now is made to look like a fool, because his prophecy was not fulfilled - in that moment.

After Jonah had died of old age, Nineveh forgot the Lord's warning. They continued in the ways of badness and by 612 BCE, the great and one of the largest cities, was ultimately sacked. It never recovered afterward.