Who was Jonah?

Jonah was a prophet in the Hebrew Bible who is best known for the story of his being swallowed by a large fish. According to the Book of Jonah, God commanded Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and preach against its wickedness. However, Jonah tried to flee from God's presence by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish. But a great storm arose, and the sailors threw Jonah overboard, where he was swallowed by a giant fish. After three days, Jonah was spat out by the fish onto the shore, and he finally obeyed God's command and went to Nineveh, where he preached against the city's wickedness. The people of Nineveh repented and turned from their evil ways, causing God to spare them. The story of Jonah is often seen as an allegory for the human tendency to resist God's will, as well as God's mercy and compassion.