Yonah's Journey and Sacrifice

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Questions and Answers

What was Yonah's initial reaction to God's command?

He ignored the command and stayed in Yaffo.

He fled towards Tarshish instead. (correct)

He immediately obeyed and went to Nineveh.

He prayed for guidance before deciding.

What did the sailors do to try and lessen the danger during the storm?

They threw their possessions off the boat. (correct)

They threw Yonah overboard immediately.

They worshipped their idols for protection.

They attempted to make a sacrifice to God.

Why did the captain wake Yonah from his sleep?

To demand that he take charge of the situation.

To urge him to call upon his god for help. (correct)

To ask him where they should sail.

To inform him about the ship's direction.

What was Yonah's response to the sailors' questions about the storm?

He identified himself as a Hebrew and acknowledged his fear of God. Signup and view all the answers

What order did Yonah give to the sailors to calm the storm?

To throw him into the sea. Signup and view all the answers

What did the sailors do after they threw Yonah into the sea?

They made a sacrifice and took vows. Signup and view all the answers

How long was Yonah in the fish according to the narrative?

3 days and 3 nights Signup and view all the answers

Which interpretation suggests that Yonah’s experience inside the fish was merely a dream?

Ibn Caspi Signup and view all the answers

What transformation is associated with the fish in the narrative?

It switches from male to female. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main message conveyed by the Gaon of Vilna regarding the book of Yonah?

It serves as a fable with life lessons. Signup and view all the answers

What was Yonah instructed to do by God after receiving a second chance?

Go to Nineveh and deliver a message. Signup and view all the answers

What action did the people of Nineveh take upon hearing Yonah's warning?

They fasted and donned mourning clothes. Signup and view all the answers

How did the king of Nineveh respond to Yonah’s message?

He took off his cloak and sat in ashes. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the animals in Nineveh fast?

To create a somber atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

What was Yonah's primary concern about the people of Nineveh repenting?

He feared being seen as a false prophet Signup and view all the answers

What did God do to help Yonah with his discomfort after he had made a sukkah?

Created a shade plant over him Signup and view all the answers

How did Yonah respond when God asked if he was deeply grieved?

He expressed intense sadness Signup and view all the answers

What was God's reasoning in verse 11 about caring for Nineveh?

They had many animals as well Signup and view all the answers

What did Yonah request from God after feeling faint from the heat?

To die rather than endure the suffering Signup and view all the answers

What does Rashi's interpretation suggest about the prophecy regarding Nineveh?

It was conditional upon their behavior Signup and view all the answers

What was Yonah's emotional state after God made the plant grow?

He was overjoyed by the shade Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Yonah Flees God's Command

God instructs Yonah to go to Nineveh and preach to its people about their wickedness.
Yonah disobeys God and flees westward towards Tarshish, boarding a ship in Jaffa.
God sends a storm to disrupt Yonah's journey, causing fear among the sailors.

The Sailors Discover Yonah's Guilt

The sailors, fearing for their lives, attribute the storm to a divine punishment and perform a lottery.
Yonah is chosen, and he confesses to being a Hebrew who fears the God of heaven.
The sailors inquire about Yonah's actions and ask him what they should do to appease the storm.

Yonah's Sacrifice

Yonah instructs the sailors to throw him overboard, believing his presence is the cause of the storm.
The sailors attempt to reach land but are unable to due to the relentless storm.
They pray to God, asking for mercy and emphasizing their innocence in the situation.

Yonah and the Fish

The sailors throw Yonah overboard, and the storm immediately subsides.
Yonah is swallowed by a large fish and remains inside for three days and three nights.
Yonah prays to God from within the fish, expressing remorse and seeking forgiveness.

Yonah's Second Chance

God speaks to Yonah while inside the fish, offering him a second opportunity.
Yonah is vomited out of the fish onto dry land.
God instructs Yonah to go to Nineveh again, this time obeying his command.

Yonah Preaches in Nineveh

Yonah travels to Nineveh, a journey that takes three days.
He arrives and proclaims that the city will be destroyed in 40 days.
The people of Nineveh repent, believing in God and fasting in sackcloth and ashes.

The King's Repentance

The king of Nineveh also repents, wearing sackcloth and sitting in ashes.
He declares a fast, forbidding all humans and animals from consuming food or water.
The king requests that everyone cry out to God, seeking his forgiveness and mercy.

Yonah's Discontent

Yonah grows angry, dissatisfied with Nineveh's repentance, fearing it might discredit his prophecy.
He expresses resentment towards God, believing that he should punish the Ninevites.
Yonah requests God to kill him, feeling dejected at the unexpected turn of events.

The Plant and Its Destruction

God challenges Yonah’s perspective, questioning his concern for a plant that was given to him to alleviate his discomfort.
Yonah is granted shade from the sun by a plant called kikayon that grows overnight.
God sends a worm to destroy the plant the following day.
Yonah is exposed to the harsh sun and expresses a desire to die once again, feeling overwhelmed with misery.

God's Final Word

God inquires if Yonah is more concerned about the plant than the city of Nineveh and its inhabitants.
God emphasizes the value of Nineveh, highlighting its large population and the possibility of salvation for both humans and animals.
He underscores the importance of compassion and the potential for change even for individuals who might seem beyond redemption.

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Description

This quiz covers the story of Yonah as he flees God's command to preach in Nineveh. Explore the events that lead to his sacrifice and the sailors' response to the storm. Test your knowledge on Yonah's narrative and the themes of obedience and divine intervention.