“The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed greater than Jonah is here (Matthew 12:41).”
On July 25, 2014 ISIS set dynamite charges over a shrine in Mosul, Iraq reputed to be the tomb of the prophet Jonah and destroyed it. Jonah, that reluctant messenger of God who preached to Nineveh, is mentioned in both the Bible and the Koran. Although Jonah, Yunus as he is known to Muslims, is a figure of the Koran, ISIS have long been known to remove any and all shrines that focus on men and tend towards idolatry. Iraqi forces are regaining territory from ISIS including sections of the city of Mosul where this desecration occurred.
Buried beneath the rubble ISIS left behind at this site fascinating finds are now being raised. Archaeologists have now found elaborate tunnels below the site and have uncovered a palace from around 672 B.C. (1) The discovery would not have been made were it not for ISIS’ destruction of “Jonah’s tomb.”
Both the Koran and the Bible speak of the effectiveness of Jonah’s preaching to the inhabitants of Nineveh. Muhamad related, “Why has there not a town which believed and benefited from their disbelief, except for the people of Jonah? When they came to believe, We removed from them the chastisement of disgrace in this world’s life, and We gave them provision for a while (Sura 10:98).” The Bible also records, “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it (Jonah 3:10).” Both books agree that Nineveh was spared from God’s wrath because they repented at the preaching of Jonah.
Buried under the site at Jonah’s tomb is a marble cuneiform inscription that seems related to King Esarhaddon. The palace that has been revealed was first built by Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:13) and later expanded by his son, Esarhaddon. If verified it would add further corroboration for the historicity of the Bible that has no parallel in the Koran (2). Sennacherib and Esarhaddon are recorded in the Bible, but not the Koran. After God’s great victory over Sennacherib he returned to Nineveh (Isaiah 37:36-38) where he was later assassinated by his sons and Esarhaddon assumed the throne. If confirmed this will be just another long string of archaeological discoveries that confirm the historical accuracy of the Bible. Others include 2004’s discovery of the Pool of Siloam (John 9:7), the palace of Sennacherib’s predecessor, Sargon (Isaiah 20:1) in 1843, and 2007’s translation of a clay tablet, a payment receipt of one of Nebuchadnezzar’s chief officials named Nebo-Sarsekim (Jeremiah 39:3)(3). There are hundreds more archaeological finds which corroborate accounts the Bible spoke of thousands of years before modern historians had any understanding.
Buried even further in the Bible is far greater meaning behind Jonah’s campaign that cannot be found in the Koran. When challenged by the Pharisees for a sign Jesus applied Jonah’s captivity in the belly of the great fish as typical of His own burial and resurrection (Matthew 12:39-40). Whether or not the shrine was actually Jonah’s tomb, we know that he will be raised at the resurrection (John 5:28-29). We too, who have repented and been joined in Christ’s death and burial (Romans 6:3-5) will emerge from the grave to eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
Like ISIS, Jonah desired to see the great city blown to smithereens and its inhabitants destroyed (Jonah 3:10-4:2). But God is merciful and not willing that any should perish that all men should repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus confirms that those men and women who repented at Jonah’s preaching will be raised and stand on that last day along with all men and women of every generation who do the same.
“When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life (Acts 11:18).’”
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/27/previously-untouched-600bc-palace-discovered-shrine-demolished/
- http://www.wnd.com/2017/03/isis-may-have-verified-bible-but-not-quran/
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1557124/Tiny-tablet-provides-proof-for-Old-Testament.html