Jonah

The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries

by Jack M. Sasson

Were Jonah's experiences true to the history of ancient Israel?  Were they meant to be read comically, philosophically, allegorically, symbolically, or realistically?  And is God godly when acting beyond the comprehension of prophets, let alone ordinary human beings?

These issues, and many more, are thoughtfully considered in this meticulously detailed and insightful translation of the original Hebrew text of Jonah as created by Jewish authorities during the second half of the first millennium B.C.E.  In these profound and enduring tales, realistic events and miraculous incidents merge, and we never have to wait long to witness the power of God's love or wrath.

One of the twelve prophets, Jonah faced more challenges in a short span of time than any other biblical hero. He went to sea and nearly drowned in the belly of a great fish.  On land, Jonah journeyed east to Nineveh, where his mission was to spread the word of God in a city plagued by evil.  He was tested by God at every turn. But even during his darkest hours, his faith never wavered and through all the tumult, he always listened for the comforting voice of the Lord.

Author Jack M. Sasson employs the very latest information in biblical scholarship to interpret the many nuances in Jonah's seemingly simple story.  Providing Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Aramaic, and, occasionally, Syriac and Arabic translations, this Anchor Bible Commentary volume is an exciting addition to the world-acclaimed series.

Genres: Biblical Studies, Religion, Judaism, Nonfiction, Theology

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1990

About the author

Jack M. Sasson currently serves as Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies and Hebrew Bible at Vanderbilt Divinity School and as a Professor of Classics at Vanderbilt University. His research focuses primarily on Assyriology and Hebrew Scriptures, writing on the archives from eighteenth century BCE found at Mari, Syria, by the Euphrates, near the modern-day Syria-Iraq border as well as on biblical studies.

Reviews

[Erik Bonkovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still on this Jonah kick
About had it with all this mercy…

[Glenn Wishnew III · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Can anything good come out of historical-critical bible scholarship?”

I came and I saw, and perhaps something good can come out of it.

[Joshua Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most thorough and in-depth work on Jonah I have encountered, perhaps only rivalled by Magonet. Whilst it certainly is present, less emphasis is put on 'comment' or interpretation and more is on translation and defending translational decisions (a nonetheless valuable resource, but it does get tedious to read, especially as the Hebrew is transliterated).

The many sources mentioned in this book offer a treasure trove for Jonah studies.

[Rebecca Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent commentary on Jonah. A little inaccessible at times because of the Hebrew analysis involved. This one will not be of interest to the casual or devotional reader.

[Mang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reference book, insightful. Wish the Hebrew was written in Hebrew and not transliterated.

[Joe Haack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Sasson is a professor of Judaic and Biblical Studies at Vanderbilt, and his name is peppered throughout the footnotes of my favorite commentaries on Jonah - so I decided to include his commentary in my sermon prep. While I disagreed with most of Sasson's conclusions (some very foundational!), his commentary was thought provoking and rewarding. His command of Hebrew narrative helped me appreciate the artistry of Jonah.

[KA · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best technical commentary on Jonah - it's got everything you want to know - textual, historical, linguistic - and more. But Sasson does not deal with either humor or comedy, both of which are huge parts of the story. And while he gives a thorough overview to theological histories of interpretation, Sasson himself is non-theological. Which is his prerogative. :)

[Greg Baughman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid work from a more critical perspective. I didn't spend as much time with this volume as I would have liked. It seemed to have a nice balance between theology and linguistics. A good work to consult when working your way through this book.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most helpful volumes in the Anchor Bible series.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the most exciting thing I've ever read. Extremely technical.