Of the twelve Minor Prophets, the book of Jonah is the odd one out. It is not a collection of prophetic oracles like the other eleven, but a story. It is a didactic narrative, to be precise, with strong satirical overtones. So, who is its author and whom and what does he want to teach? The book’s name is derived from the 8th cent. prophet Jonah ben Amittai from Gath-hepher in Galilee. He was active as a prophet of salvation at the time of Jeroboam II (787–747 B.C.).