A look at Bible Book of
Jonah, Obadiah and Nahum

Jonah

Book of Jonah - Prophet of Israel's hatred of Neighbor

Date

- Prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam of Israel.

- 750 B.C.

Situation in Israel and Assyria

- Israel is prospering at this time and is despised by it's foreign neighbors.

- Assyria is rising in the world dominance and is already terrorizing the other nations.

Message

- The Prophet Jonah is called to Nineveh, Assyria's capital city. He refuses at first but goes later after his experience with a big fish.

- The people of Nineveh repent much to Jonah's disappointment.

- God teaches Jonah that he cares about the lives of even the Assyrians.

Audience

- Assyrians - repented and came to God.

Obadiah

Date

- 586/85 B.C.

Situation in Edom and Judah

- God has judged Judah and is allowing them to be taken to Babylon.

- Edom has delighted in Judah's disaster because She has despised Judah and Israel.

Message

- God will curse and judge Judah for hating Israel

Audience

- The nation of Israel

Nahum

Date

- Nahum prophesies during a time when Assyria begins to decline in power.

- 650-620 B.C.

Situation in Israel and Assyria

- The Assyrian empire is in trouble and in decline.

- The Babylonians are threatening.

- Although the Ninevites turned to God during Jonah's time, Assyria has continued to oppress it's neighbors and work against God.

Message

- God's patience with Assyria will not last forever. He will judge and destroy the empire.

- Nahum stresses that God does not punish arbitutraily but because of the extreme sins of the nation. She has raped and terrorized other nations long enough.

- God has been patient and longsuffering but His time of mercy is up.

Audience

- Assyrians

Return to Old Testament from Book of Jonah, Nahum and Obadiah