This summary of the book of Jonah provides information about the
title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology,
outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of
Jonah. The book is named after its principal character, whose
name means "dove"; see the simile used of Ephraim in Hos 7:11 to
portray the northern kingdom as "easily deceived and senseless."
See also Ps 68:13; 74:19 and notes. Though the book does not
identify its author, tradition has ascribed it to the prophet
himself, Jonah son of Amittai (1:1), from Gath Hepher (2Ki
14:25; see note there) in Zebulun (Jos 19:10,13). In view of its
many similarities with the narratives about Elijah and Elisha,
however, it may come from the same prophetic circles that
originally composed the accounts about those prophets, perhaps
in the eighth century b.c. (see Introduction to 1 Kings: Author,
Sources and Date). In the half-century during which the prophet
Jonah ministered (800-750 b.c.), a significant event affected
the northern kingdom o