Jonah, God, and Nineveh -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 06:15:26 03/04/08 Tue
Author: Betsy Peters
Subject: Jonah, God, and Nineveh
In reply to: Shannon 's message, "Hell" on 13:13:53 02/27/08 Wed

Thinking about Jonah's attitude towards God as defining his position towards God caused me to think about what the Ninevites hoped that God would do. After Jonah preached to them that God was coming to destroy the city, the people of Nineveh ask "'Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.'
When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it." In light of what we have discussed, do we need to read this text as the author assuming that God really changed his mind--that the action was on the part of the Divine? It is interesting to note in the king's command, he order: "But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Notice that the people do not call on God earnestly so that GOD may turn from his way and from the violence which is in his hands, but that the people may do so. In the passage it seems that the people do all the real turning.

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Replies:

Re: Jonah, God, and Nineveh -- j.jackson, 06:36:12 03/04/08 Tue
- Re: Jonah, God, and Nineveh -- Erin Risch, 20:30:30 03/09/08 Sun
  - On suicide -- Betsy Peters, 10:01:30 03/11/08 Tue
  - Row against the storm to stop reciprocation -- Betsy Peters, 10:08:38 03/11/08 Tue