Outline
The story of Jonah includes seven episodes, with the first three paralleled by the second three. The final episode stands alone as the climax of the story:
- Jonah’s commissioning and flight (1:1-3)
- Jonah and the pagan sailors (1:4-16)
- Jonah’s grateful prayer (1:17-2:10)
- Jonah’s recommissioning and compliance (3:1–3a)
- Jonah and the pagan Ninevites (3:3b–10)
- Jonah’s angry prayer (4:1-4)
- Jonah’s lesson about compassion (4:5-11)