Chapter 1: God commands Jonah to go to the city
of Nineveh and proclaim a message of repentance. However, Jonah tries to escape
by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish. A great storm arises, and the sailors
realize Jonah's disobedience is the cause. Jonah confesses, and the sailors
reluctantly throw him into the sea to calm the storm. Jonah is swallowed by a
great fish.
Chapter 2: Jonah prays from the belly of the
fish, acknowledging his disobedience and seeking God's deliverance. After three
days and nights, the fish vomits Jonah onto dry land.
Chapter 3: God again commands Jonah to go to
Nineveh and deliver the message of impending judgment. This time, Jonah obeys
and proclaims the message throughout the city. The people of Nineveh, including
the king, repent, and God relents from His planned judgment.
Chapter 4: Jonah becomes upset that God has
spared Nineveh. He goes outside the city and sits under a plant for shade. God
causes a plant to grow to provide further shade, but then sends a worm to
destroy it. Jonah becomes angry about the plant's demise. God uses this
situation to teach Jonah about His compassion for all people, even those
outside Israel.