or Prophecy of Jonah, a canonical book of the Old Testament; in which it is related, that Jonah (about 771 B.C.) was ordered to go and prophesy the destruction of the Ninevites, on account of their wickedness. But the prophet, instead of obeying the divine command, embarked for Tarshish; when, a tempest arising, the mariners threw him into the sea; he was swallowed by a great fish; and after being three days and nights in his belly, was cast upon the land. Hereupon 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 their sins and misdeeds, 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. Jonah upon this, fearing to pass for a false prophet, retired to a hill at some distance from the city; where God, by a miracle, condescended to show him the unreasonableness of his discontent.