Jonah: a man, a prophet of Israel, sent with a message of hope to a people not his own, a cruel people in violent opposition to his own: a little historical context for our time in and with Jonah.
Reading the story of Jonah afresh, as if we’ve never read it before.
What do I remember?
What do I know?
What is significant about this little book?
We might ask the following questions:
“Were Israel and Ninevah enemies during Jonah’s time?” Why, yes! They were, in fact, bitter enemies. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria and they did not get along
During the time of Jonah, Israel and Assyria, were not on friendly terms. The Assyrians were a powerful and expansionist empire that posed a significant threat to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The Assyrians had already conquered many Israelite territories and taken some of the Israelites into captivity.
So, at the time Jonah was sent to Nineveh, there was a hostile relationship between the two regions. It's important to note that the biblical story of Jonah is often interpreted as a demonstration of God's mercy and the possibility of repentance, even for those considered enemies of Israel. Jonah's mission to Nineveh was to call the people to repentance, which they did, and this resulted in God's mercy being extended to them.
“Was there violence between Israel and Assyria during Jonah’s time and prior?” Yes, there was violence and conflict between Israel and Assyria during Jonah's time and in the years leading up to it. The Assyrian Empire was known for its aggressive expansion and conquests.
Prior to Jonah's mission to Nineveh, the Assyrians had been involved in military campaigns in the region, and Israel had been one of their targets. This hostile relationship and the violence between the two nations were part of the historical context in which the events of the Book of Jonah took place. Jonah's mission to Nineveh was absolutely remarkable because it called for the repentance of a people who were considered enemies of Israel, thus highlighting the theme of divine mercy and the possibility of reconciliation.
“How violent were Assyria’s tactics during and before Jonah’s time?” The Assyrians were known for their brutal and ruthless tactics in warfare, both during and before Jonah's time. They were one of the most feared and aggressive empires of the ancient world. Some of their violent tactics included:
Siege Warfare: The Assyrians were adept at conducting long and brutal sieges of cities. They would often surround a city, cutting off its supplies and subjecting the inhabitants to hunger and disease.
Deportations: The Assyrians practiced mass deportations of conquered peoples. They would forcefully relocate populations from their homelands to different parts of the empire to weaken resistance and assimilate the conquered people into the Assyrian culture.
Pillaging and Plunder: They would loot and pillage cities and temples, taking valuable treasures and enslaving people.
Harsh Punishments: The Assyrians were known for their cruel treatment of captured leaders and rebels. They would often inflict severe physical punishment and torture.
Psychological Warfare: They used fear as a weapon, often employing tactics such as public displays of brutality to terrify those who might resist.
Forced Tribute: Conquered nations were required to pay heavy tributes to the Assyrian king, further burdening their economies.
The violence and cruelty of the Assyrians were notorious and had a significant impact on the ancient Near East. It's against this backdrop of Assyrian aggression that the story of Jonah, who was sent to deliver a message of repentance and mercy to the people of Nineveh, is set in the Bible.
