If I Were a Prophet Jonahtranslated

The Book of the Prophet Jonah has an unusually unexpected conclusion. In the final verse, God asks the disobedient prophet, who was unhappy with His decision to spare the inhabitants of Nineveh, a question that remains unanswered: "Is it right for me not to have mercy on Nineveh?" The ending of the book ultimately remains open. Why?

Father Eugene MURZIN

Editor of the "Faith and Church" Direction

When God asks Jonah this question, his mission is already complete. He came to Nineveh, proclaimed its destruction, and sat waiting for God to consume it. But the inhabitants repented, and God canceled the punishment. Instead of rejoicing, the prophet was saddened by this and was irritated (Jonah 4:1). He cannot accept God's mercy. He is annoyed by the very possibility that the city, over which God's judgment was pronounced, after repentance, receives forgiveness. His sense of justice tells him that sinners should be punished. He believes they do not deserve God's mercy.

Why is Prophet Jonah depicted as bald? In the Holy Scripture, we do not find any description of how Jonah looked. Where did this image come from?

Then, by God's command, a plant grows next to Jonah, who is sitting in the sun, and shelters him from the heat. Jonah rejoices over this, but the next day the plant withers. The prophet...