Indeed Jonah has already experienced, and gladly accepted, divine deliverance from death at sea (cf. 2:2–9). Throughout the story Jonah does not object to divine mercy or forgiveness as such, but rather to its recipient, the Ninevites; how can God possibly pardon this particular people? Of the various proposals for the purpose of Jonah, it is apparent that there is little to choose between them; it is easy to see why no clear consensus has yet been reached. Having said this, however, the view that