Jonah
Prophet from Gath-hepher in the northern kingdom in the time of Jeroboam II. The book named after him tells of his flight from a mission to Nineveh, the great fish and the city’s repentance.
Kings names Jonah son of Amittai, from Gath-hepher in the territory of Zebulun (Joshua 19:10–13), as the prophet who foretold that Jeroboam II would restore Israel’s borders (2 Kings 14:25). The book of Jonah tells how he was sent to Nineveh, fled by ship from Joppa, was swallowed by a great fish and at last preached in the city, which repented (Jonah 1:1–3) (Jonah 1:17) (Jonah 3). The book gives one line of his preaching (Jonah 3:4); the rest is narrative and a prayer.
In the Gospels Jesus speaks of “the sign of Jonah” (Matthew 12:39–41) (Luke 11:29–32). On the date and character of the book see Jonah Sent to Nineveh.
In the timeline
- about 760 BC, traditional dateJonah Sent to Nineveh
The book of Jonah tells of a prophet of Israel who is sent to preach against Nineveh, flees by sea, is swallowed by a great fish and then sees the Assyrian city repent and be spared. Jesus later speaks of “the sign of Jonah”.