Shades of Green — or Grey? Towards an Ecological Interpretation of Jonah 4:6-11

• Main Author: Schalk Van Heerden
• Format: Article
• Language: Afrikaans
• Published: OTSSA 2017-09-01
• Series: Old Testament Essays
• Subjects: ecological interpretation; Book of Jonah; Green Bible; Ben Zvi; animal sacrifice.
• Online Access: https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/168

Most scholars who have attempted ecological interpretations of the Jonah narrative regard Jonah 4:6-11, especially the reference to the animals of Nineveh in 4:11, as an obvious starting point for a retrieval of ecological wisdom in the narrative. A notable exception is the Green Bible team, who selected, and printed in green, more than a thousand biblical passages which, in their view, support the aims and principles of creation care, including five passages from the Jonah narrative. However, not a single verse in Jonah chapter 4 is printed in green. A number of scholars indeed argue that no ecological wisdom can be retrieved from the passage under discussion, particularly 4:11, because the reference to animals is made in the context of forthcoming sacrifices from the newly pardoned, grateful Ninevites. Ehud Ben Zvi contends that a double reading of 4:11 is possible. This study argues that the work of Ben Zvi provides an angle from which more nuanced ecological readings of the Jonah narrative can be done.