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.
• Each of the two units contains a secondary story regarding the near destruction of non-Israelites who are saved as they turn to God.
• 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 (וַיְהִי דְּבַר י״י אֶל יוֹנָה... לֵאמֹר: קוּם לֵךְ אֶל נִינְוֵה הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה וּקְרָא עָלֶיהָ), clearly marking the book's division into two. The following verse is also somewhat parallel, but highlights the difference between the units. While at first Yonah "gets up" to flee (וַיָּקׇם יוֹנָה לִבְרֹחַ תַּרְשִׁישָׁה לִּפְנֵי י״י), later he "gets up" to obey (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: First Mission

A. Near Destruction of Boatmen  (Chapter 1)
B. Miracles and Prayer (Chapter 2)

• Content – While the first chapter focuses on near destruction, the second highlights salvation.¹
• Location – Chapter 1 takes place on the boat, while Chapter 2 takes place in the body of the fish.
• Characters – The first chapter focuses on the interplay between the sailors and Yonah.  In contrast, Yonah is the sole character of Chapter 2.
• Genre – While Chapter 1 is written in prose, Chapter 2 is mainly poetry.
• Literary indicators – Chapter 2 is framed by the fish swallowing / releasing Yonah, clearly setting it off as a unit of its own.

Subdivision of Unit II: Second Mission

A. Near Destruction of Nineveh (Chapter 3)
B. Prayer and Miracle (Chapter 4)

• Content – While Chapter 3 highlights the repentance of Nineveh, Chapter 4 focuses on Yonah's reaction to it.
• Characters – The people of Nineveh are the focus of Chapter 3, with Yonah acting as a secondary character. In contrast, Yonah (and Hashem) is the central figure of Chapter 4.
• Location – Chapter three all occurs within Nineveh, while the events of Chapter 4 take place on the outskirts of the city.

Parallel Structure

The events and content of the two halves of the book are somewhat parallel as illustrated by the following chart:

 

Subdivision of Scene II

¹ Commentators dispute the nature of Yonah's Prayer, with some reading it as a prayer of thanksgiving and others as a request for salvation. However, even those who read it as a petition, agree that the overall tone is positive as the prophet expresses his confidence in being saved.