JONAH: His Life, Character,and Mission, ANNOTATED

by Patrick Fairbairn, Gary Roper (Editor)

C. H. Spurgeon recommended this book and there can be no higher recommendation than the word of this great Bible scholar and preacher of the 19th century who is still popular and well known all over the world today. Of this book Spurgeon said, "The Life and times of the prophet are set in a clear light; and the nature and design of his mission fully explained. The work is well done, and is by far the ablest English treatise on this subject."
This work is a must have for the minister of the gospel and it is a good study book for the layman, too. This book is one of the great classics, and is becoming more difficult to find in print in this modern age. It has been specially formatted as an electronic book and is much easier to read than many of the other electronic books, which are merely scanned and pick up blots and mistakes in optical recognition. This book's type has been completely re-set and annotated for clarity without compromising the original words of Bairn.
This book really puts unlearned Bible skeptics in their place who say it is scientifically impossible for Jonah to have been swallowed by a whale, or in fact any "great fish" in the Mediterranean sea. Here is just a sample of the rebuttal: The view commonly adopted from the earliest times has understood by the great fish, a whale, although it is well known that the Hebrew word here, and even the corresponding Greek word in Matt. xii. 40, is applicable to a GREAT FISH. The narrowness of the neck of the whale has led many commentators to think of some other fish, for example, Bochart the dog-fish, and others some species of shark; and yet in whales there is another cavity besides the stomach; a sort of huge air-vessel, which might have been made to serve the purpose. (See Jebb's Sacred Literature, p. 178.) But recent writers have wisely given up speculations of this kind; a miracle any way was needed; and that various large fishes might be found in the Mediterranean suitable for the purpose, is no longer a matter of doubt. There are some nice pictures in the book, and a map added by the editor.

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 1980

About the author

Rev. Patrick Fairbairn, D.D. (University of Edinburgh, 1826) was a minister and theologian of the Free Church of Scotland. He was Principal and Professor of Church History and Exegesis for the Free Church College from its 1856 founding until his death, and was Professor of Theology at the Free Church Theological College in Aberdeen from 1853.

Reviews

[Michael K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was one of the better books written on Jonah. I thought it was well written, the layout was exceptional, and some of the insights posed about Jonah were interestingly placed. I have a project or two based upon the Book of Jonah and this book will be added to that as a resource.

[Joe Haack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairbairn is idiosyncratic in his view of the overall purpose of Jonah, but shines when it comes to historical contingencies relating to prophetic prediction (chapter 3, verse 10). I skimmed some of his commentary, but was glad to have had it for my sermon preparation.

[Josiah Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick Fairbairn's Jonah commentary was very helpful to me. I love how Fairbairn writes, and he has many insights that other Jonah commentators lack.
If you are studying Jonah for any reason, whether lightly or in great depth, I highly recommend giving this a read.