ProlepsisOpen in the graph →

Prophecy

Jonah son of Amittai and the expansion of Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:25)

Bronze replica of the seal of “Shema, servant of Jeroboam” (Megiddo, 8th c. BC, original lost). It attests the king’s administration, not Jonah’s words.
Archaeological object Bronze replica of the seal of “Shema, servant of Jeroboam” (Megiddo, 8th c. BC, original lost). It attests the king’s administration, not Jonah’s words. — Fred Cherrygarden, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

○ Written after the events, according to historians; tradition dates it before

Written c. 795–785 BC according to tradition; c. 640–560 BC according to historians. Event: c. 789–748 BC.

See the full entry: sources, objections, answers

In short

The announcement. The second book of Kings reports that the prophet Jonah son of Amittai, around 795–785 BC, had announced that Israel's borders would be restored as far as the entrance of Hamath. His words are not quoted.

What happened. Under Jeroboam II, around 789–748 BC, Israel reaches its last peak of power and prosperity, thanks to the weakness of Damascus and a retreat of Assyria. A seal found at Megiddo attests to this king's administration.

What is still debated. since Jonah's saying is never quoted, it can neither be dated nor checked for what it really announced.

What would be striking if the text came first

Jonah, known mainly from the book that bears his name, is linked here to a specific reign and a political announcement. But his words are never quoted and the account was written after the fact according to historians: it cannot be assessed.

Main objection (in French for now)

La parole de Jonas n’est pas citée : on ne peut ni la dater ni vérifier ce qu’elle annonçait. On ne dispose que de l’affirmation du narrateur.

The text (World English Bible)

He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to the LORD, the God of Israel’s word, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath Hepher.

2 Kgs 14:25

Sources