Jonah ... Jonah the son of Amittai or Jonas (Hebrew: יוֹנָה Yōnā, lit. 'dove') [a] was a Jewish prophet from Gath-hepher in the Northern Kingdom of Israel around the 8th century BCE according to the Hebrew Bible.

Understanding the Context

Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. Jonah 1 NIV - Jonah Flees From the LORD - The word of - Bible Gateway Summary: Jonah details the journey of the prophet Jonah, who is commanded by God to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh. Having initially fled toward Tarshish, Jonah is swallowed by a great fish.

Key Insights

Jonah was the son of Amittai, who came from Gath-hepher in Zebulun (called Gittah-hepher in Joshua 19:10-13). He was the earliest of the prophets and close behind Elisha in his place in the Old Testament. Jonah (flourished 785 bce) was one of the 12 Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament. His narrative is part of a larger book, The Twelve, in the Jewish canon, and stands alone as the Book of Jonah in Christian scripture. The Book of Jonah is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Nevi'im ("Prophets") in the Hebrew Bible, and an individual book in the Old Testament where it has four chapters.

Final Thoughts

[1] The book tells of a Hebrew prophet named Jonah, son of Amittai, who is sent by God to prophesy the destruction of Nineveh, but attempts to escape his divine mission. 1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.