JONAH, or Prophecy of JONAH, a canonical book of the Old Testament; in which it is related, that Jonah was ordered to go and prophecy the destruction of the Ninevites; but that disobediently attempting a voyage another way, he was discovered by the rising of a sudden tempest, and cast into the sea; where he was swallowed up by a whale, which, having lodged him three days and three nights in his belly, disgorged him upon the shore; whereupon being sensible of his past danger and surprising deliverance, he betook himself to the journey and embassy to which he was appointed; and arriving at Nineveh, the metropolis of Assyria, he, according to his commission, boldly laid open to the inhabitants their sins and miscarriages, and proclaimed their sudden overthrow; upon which the whole city, by prayer and fasting, and a speedy repentance, happily averted the divine vengeance, and escaped the threatened ruin.