Jonah the Prophet
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(2 Kgs 14:25; Matt 12:39; Luke 11:29-30) - a Hebrew prophet who evidently lived during the reign of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel. He is called the son of Amittai of Gath-hepher and therefore lived in Zebulun and undoubtedly belonged to that tribe. Jonah foretold Israel's restoration and victories under Jeroboam (2 Kgs 14:25-27), whose accession the source places about 825 BC. A Jewish tradition identifies Jonah with the son of the widow of Zarephath whom Elijah miraculously raised (1 Kgs 17:8-24), but the source rightly notes that this tradition lacks sufficient foundation.