serve God. His action is nothing less than open rebellion against God’s sovereignty.”15 The surprising nature of Jonah’s disobedience is highlighted by the syntax of v. 3 and by the repetition of the verb qûm from v. 2. God had commanded his prophet, “Arise, go to Nineveh.” Verse 3 begins (literally), “So Jonah rose,” as if Jonah were about to obey the Lord as prophets were expected to do (cf. Gen 12:1, 4; 22:2–3; 1 Kgs 17:9–10; 18:1–2; 2 Kgs 1:15; 1 Chr 21:10–11, 18–19). But the verse continues
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