Jonah - Bible Map Collection
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Jonah’s Journey: From Gath Hepher to Joppa
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Jonah’s Journey Begins
Before Jonah became famous for running from God, he was a prophet living in Israel. This map traces his hometown, his journey to Joppa, and the northern kingdom where he served as God’s messenger.
Description
Jonah, the Prophet Who Ran
Jonah lived in the northern kingdom of Israel during the 700s BC. His hometown was Gath Hepher, near Nazareth and the hills of Galilee. As a prophet, Jonah spoke for God during the reign of King Jeroboam II, a time when Israel was expanding its territory and enjoying a period of strength.
But Jonah’s best-known story begins when God tells him to go to Nineveh and warn the people there. Instead of heading east toward Assyria, Jonah went in the opposite direction to Joppa, a coastal port on the Mediterranean Sea. From there, he tried to sail away, setting in motion the storm and great fish story that has made Jonah one of the Bible’s most memorable prophets.
The geography makes Jonah’s decision easier to picture. Gath Hepher was in the northern part of Israel, while Joppa was far to the southwest on the Mediterranean coast. Jonah deliberately traveled toward the coast rather than following God's command. The map also places Samaria, Israel’s capital, and Jerusalem, Judah’s capital, in relation to Jonah’s homeland.
Jonah’s story is about much more than a prophet and a fish. His journey shows the tension between running from God and obeying God, while also revealing God's concern for people beyond Israel. Seeing the actual distances and landscape helps bring Jonah’s surprising journey to life.
