copyrights © 1997 revised 1998, 1999, michael eashoo editor
jonah, in a old format
Chapter 1 ( part 1 )
the Word from YHVH came to Jonah the son of Amittai.
Saying arise go to nineveh that great city.
cry against it.
for their wickedness has come up before Me.
Jonah rose up to flee to tarshish from the Presence of YHVH.
he went down to joppa and found a ship which was going to tarshish.
he paid the fare to go down.
going with them to tarshish from the Presence of YHVH.
YHVH hurled a great wind on the sea.
a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.
the sailors became afraid.
every male cried to his creator.
they threw-out the cargo which was in the ship.
into the sea to lighten it.
Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship.
laying down he fell sound asleep.
the captain approached him saying.
how is it that you are sleeping?
get up call on your creator to help.
perhaps a creator will be concerned and we will not perish.
each male said to his mate come let us cast lots.
that we may learn on whose account is this calamity.
they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
they said tell us now what accounts for this calamity.
what is your occupation?
where do you come from?
what is your country?
from what people are you?
he said i am a Hebrew.
i fear YHVH.
the CREATOR of the heavens.
Who made the waters and the dry land.
the men became extremely frightened.
they said how could you do this?
the men knew he was fleeing from the Presence of YHVH.
because he had told them.
they said what should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us.
for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy.
he said pick me up and throw me into the sea.
the sea will become calm knowing on may account is this great storm.
the men rowed to return to land but they could not.
the sea was becoming stormier against them.
they called on YHVH saying we earnestly pray.
YHVH do not let us perish on account of this male's life.
do not put innocent blood on us YHVH.
we do this to please You.
they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea.
the sea stopped raging.
{{the men feared YHVH greatly.
they offered a sacrifice to YHVH and made vows.}
YHVH Appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah.
Jonah was in the stomach of the fish 3 days and 3 nights.
Jonah prayed to YHVH his CREATOR.
from the stomach of the fish he said.
i called out in my distress to YHVH to answered me.
i cried for help from the depth of sheol to hear my voice.
You cast me into the deep heart of the sea.
the current engulfed me as all breakers and billows passed over me.
i said i have been expelled from Your Sight.
nevertheless i will look again toward Your Holy Temple.
water encompassed me to the point of death.
the great deep engulfed me as weeds were wrapped around my head.
i descended to the roots of the mountains.
the earth with its bars was around me forever.
but You brought up my life from the pit.
YHVH is my CREATOR.
while i was fainting away i was remembered by YHVH.
my prayer came to You in Your Holy Temple.
those who regard vain idols forsake Your Faithfulness.
i sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving.
that which i have Vowed i will pay.
for Salvation is from YHVH.
YHVH Commanded the fish.
spiting Jonah up onto the dry land.
Chapter 1 ( part 2 )
now the Word from YHVH came to Jonah.
a 2nd time Saying.
arise go to nineveh the great city.
proclaim the proclamation which I Am going to Tell you.
Jonah arose.
went to nineveh according to the Word from YHVH.
now nineveh was an exceedingly great city.
a 3 days' walk.
Jonah began to go through the city.
a 1 day's walk.
he cried out saying.
yet 40 days and nineveh will be overthrown.
the people of nineveh believed the CREATOR.
they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least.
his words reached the king of nineveh who arose from his throne.
laying aside his robe to cover himself with sackcloth.
sitting in ashes he issued a proclamation saying.
nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles.
do not let man or beast of the herd or flock taste a thing.
do not let them eat or drink water.
both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth.
let man call on the CREATOR earnestly.
for each to turn from his wicked way.
from the violence which is in his hands.
who knows the CREATOR may turn and relent.
withdrawing His Burning Anger so that we shall not perish.
when the CREATOR Saw their deeds.
that they turned from their wicked way.
the CREATOR relented from concerning the calamity which was declared.
that which He would bring upon them He did not do.
this greatly displeased Jonah.
he became angry and prayed to YHVH.
saying please YHVH was not this what i said?
while i was still in my own country?
therefore in order to forestall this i fled to tarshish.
i knew You are the Gracious and Compassionate GOD.
Slow to Anger and Abundant in Lovingkindness.
One Who relents concerning calamity.
now YHVH please take my life from me.
for death is better to me than life.
YHVH Said do you have good reason to be angry?
then Jonah went out from the city and sat east of it.
there he acquired shelter for himself.
sat under in the shade so he could see what would happen to the city.
YHVH the CREATOR Appointed a plant.
it grew over Jonah.
the shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort.
Jonah was extremely happy about the plant.
the CREATOR Appointed it a worm.
as dawn came the next day it attacked the plant and wither it.
came about when the sun came up.
the CREATOR Appointed a scorching east wind and the sun beat down on Jonah's head.
he became faint and begged with all his soul to die.
saying death is better to me than life.
the CREATOR Said to Jonah do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?
he said i have good reason to be angry even to death.
YHVH Said you had compassion on the plant for which you did not work.
you did not cause it to grow.
which came up overnight.
then perished overnight.
should I not have Compassion on nineveh?
a great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons.
who do not know between their right and left hand.
as well as many animals.