To whom was jonah delivering his message?

Answer 1

Jonah was (according to the book of Jonah) instructed by God to go and preach to the Assyrian city of Nineveh. God told Jonah that their wickedness had come before him and he wanted Jonah to be his messenger.

Jonah, being fearful, ran from God to try and avoid God's instruction. The story can be found in the Book of Jonah.

• Answer 2

According to tradition, Jonah's message was chiefly meant to impress the Ten Israelite Tribes. If they would take to heart how the people of Nineveh repented, they might do the same. Jonah suspected that most of the Ten Tribes were likely to ignore the lesson and this would hasten the destruction of their land. That's why he fled.

Answer 2

To the non-Jewish city of Nineveh. According to tradition, however, it was chiefly meant to impress the Ten Israelite Tribes. If they would take to heart how the people of Nineveh repented, they might do the same.

Jonah suspected that most of the Ten Tribes were likely to ignore the lesson and this would hasten the destruction of their land. That's why he tried to avoid conveying God's prophecy to Nineveh. He left the shores of Israel in a ship, since Israel is the land most conducive to prophecy.

See also the Related Links.

Link: What species can swallow a man?

Link: More about the Hebrew Bible

Link: Israelite prophecy

Answer 3

Jonah was delivering his message to the people of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire.