linguistic features or by a fanciful or legendary portrayal of the background. These considerations leave open the entire range of possibilities indicated at the beginning of this section. According to my interpretation of Jonah, its purpose focuses on the issues inherent in classical prophecy. The book uses the example of Nineveh to educate both Israel and its prophets regarding what might be called the “ground rules” of this period (whether in its preexilic or postexilic segment). The