Structure – Sefer Yonah/0

Structure – Sefer Yonah

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Division into Units

I. The First Mission (Chapters 1-2)
II. The Second Mission (Chapters 3-4)

This division is supported by the following factors:

• Content – Chapters 1-2 describe Yonah's aborted mission and Hashem's lesson that one cannot flee from God. Chapters 3-4, in contrast describe Yonah's fulfilling of his mission and Hashem's message regarding the importance of mercy.
• Location – The first two chapters take place at sea, while the last two take place on land, in and around Nineveh.
• Characters – While Yonah and the sailors are the main characters of the first unit, Yonah and the people of Nineveh are the focus of the second.
• Parallel openings: Both units open with nearly identical language, with the second adding only that Hashem called "a second time", clearly marking the book's division into two.

EN/HEע/E

(א) וַיְהִי דְּבַר י״י אֶל יוֹנָה בֶן אֲמִתַּי לֵאמֹר. (ב) קוּם לֵךְ אֶל נִינְוֵה הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה וּקְרָא עָלֶיהָ	(א) וַיְהִי דְבַר י״י אֶל יוֹנָה שֵׁנִית לֵאמֹר. (ב) קוּם לֵךְ אֶל נִינְוֵה הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה וּקְרָא אֵלֶיהָ
(ג) וַיָּקׇם יוֹנָה לִבְרֹחַ תַּרְשִׁישָׁה מִלִּפְנֵי י״י	(ג) וַיָּקׇם יוֹנָה וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל נִינְוֵה כִּדְבַר י״י

• Parallel structure – See below that there is a symmetry in the overall structure of the two units, further supporting the division.

Subdivision of Unit I

A. Near Destruction of Boatmen  (Chapter 1)
    i. Prophet Flees (1:1-3)
    ii. Danger of Death (1:4-13)
    iii. Sailors turn to God and are Saved (1:14-17)

B.. Miracle at Sea and Prayer (Chapter 2)
    i. Miraculous Message from Nature (2:1)
    ii. Prophet Prays for/ from Salvation (2:2-10)
    iii. Prophet Released (2:11)

Subdivision of Unit III. 

A. Near Destruction of Nineveh (Chapter 3)
   i. Prophet Heeds Call (3:1-3)
   ii. Danger of Destruction (3:4)
   iii. Ninevites turn to God and are Saved (3:5-10)

B. Prayer and Miracles of Nature (Chapter 4)
   i. Prophet Prays to Die (4:1-5)
   ii. Miraculous Message from Nature (4:6-11)