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Jonah 1 and the Battle with the Sea: Myth and Irony

2018; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 32; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/09018328.2018.1470843

1502-7244

Kurtis Peters,

Marine and environmental studies

Jonah 1 draws upon the myth of the battle against the sea. Most noticeable is the presence of the triad God, wind, and sea. These elements are present primarily in Genesis 1 & 8, Exodus 14 & 15, Enuma Elish and the Gilgamesh Epic, each retelling the myth of the cosmic battle. Jonah’s allusions, however, go beyond God, wind, and sea and include, for example, the use of Jonah’s name “dove” with reference to the flood accounts. The present essay illustrates these connections, among others, and maintains that the prophet Jonah represents Israel and that the book employs this common myth ironically, to the end that Jonah/Israel is punished rather than delivered through the actions of YHWH.