Jonah, Nahum, and the Book of the Twelve: A Response to Jakob Wöhrle

Abstract

In discussion with Wöhrle's analysis in the previous article of this set, it is maintained that both the book of Jonah and the book of Nahum should be read as a unit. The book of Jonah was probably written as a reaction to the negative view on foreign peoples found in Joel 4:2. The writer of the book of Jonah builds his case upon the authoritative text from Exodus 34. Both in terms of form and content, he is also inspired by the book of Nahum. Therefore, the repeated use of Exodus 34:6-7 in these texts needs not be ascribed to a separate layer, but is probably part of a process of one book reacting to the other.