Jonah 1:1

The book and verse open with a conjunction (Heb. waw, Eng. "Now"). Several versions leave this word untranslated because it makes no substantial difference in the story. Its presence in the Hebrew Bible may suggest that this book was part of a larger collection of stories. About 14 Old Testament books begin with "And," and they obviously connect with the books that immediately precede them. However what Jonah might have continued is unknown.

"These books remind us of God’s ’continued story’ of grace and mercy." [Note: Warren W. Wiersbe, "Jonah," in The Bible Exposition Commentary/Prophets, p. 378.]

The expression "The word of the LORD came to" occurs over 100 times in the Old Testament. [Note: Alexander, p. 97.] The writer did not record how Jonah received the following message from the Lord. That is inconsequential here, though often in other prophetic books the method of revelation that God used appears. Likewise the time of this revelation is a mystery and unessential to the interpretation and application of this story. God’s actions are the most important feature in this prophecy.

We do not have any knowledge of Amittai ("truthful") other than that he was Jonah’s father. The recording of the name of an important person’s father was common in Jewish writings, and the presence of Amittai’s name in the text argues for the historical reality of Jonah.

There are several unbiblical Jewish traditions about Jonah’s origin. [Note: Ellison, "Jonah," p. 368.] One held that he was the widow’s son whom Elijah restored to life (1 Kings 17:17-24). Another held that he had some connection with the Jerusalem temple even though he was from the North. Another credited him with a successful mission to Jerusalem similar to the one to Nineveh. None of these has any biblical support. They were apparently attempts to fit Jonah into other inspired stories and to glorify the prophet.