Revelation of God: A Commentary on the Books of Song of Songs and Jonah
Overview
With due attention to historical and literary issues, the authors explore the theological contributions of two books unique among the Old Testament canon.
Offering fresh perspectives for the book’s message and setting, George A. F. Knight depicts The Song of Songs as a book about God and his plan of redemption for the world—a revelation of the love of God.
Friedemann W. Golka presents the book of Jonah as a masterpiece of Hebrew narrative art, a multidimensional account which through skillful use of irony and satire demonstrates the divine privilege of mercy for all living beings.
Top Highlights
“Of the twelve Minor Prophets, the book of Jonah is the odd one out. It is not a collection of prophetic oracles like the other eleven, but a story. It is a didactic narrative, to be precise, with strong satirical overtones.” (Page 70)
“ Does Jonah wish the sailors and the Ninevites to perish but is prepared to die for the Ricinus?” (Page 124)
“In rabbinical Hebrew, however, hus means ‘to be concerned for one’s property.’ (I owe this information to Alexander Rofé of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.) This meaning, in my opinion, would fit perfectly in the book of Jonah: ‘You are concerned about the Ricinus as if it were your property’—in reality, however, ‘you did not labor (for it), nor did you make it grow (giddalto, the same root as the author’s favorite word, gadol, ‘great’).’” (Page 124)
“The divine command to Jonah reminds us of the first biblical command of this nature. Israel’s salvation history begins with the command to Abraham ‘Go from your country … to the land that I will show you’ (Gen. 12:1). Jonah’s journey is to be a reversal of Abraham’s. Jonah is to leave Palestine heading northeast for Nineveh.” (Page 74)
“The latter is no longer understood as an irrevocable announcement of the future, but, according to Jeremias, as a warning in order to make Israel turn back so that Yahweh does not have to implement the acts of judgment with which he had threatened them.” (Page 126)
Product Details
- Title: Revelation of God: A Commentary on the Books of Song of Songs and Jonah
- Authors: George A. F. Knight and Friedemann W. Golka
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Publication Date: 1988
- Pages: 136
Partially includedAbout the Authors
George A.F. Knight of New Zealand is co-editor of the International Theological Commentary series and author of ITD volumes on Isaiah 40-55 and Isaiah 56-66.
Friedemann W. Golka is Lecturer of Theology (Old Testament) at the University of Exeter. The son of a Pastor in the German Confessing Church, he has long had an interest in Jewish-Christian dialogue.