Jonah's tribal affiliation is disputed; generally assigned to Asher, he is claimed for Zebulun by R. Johanan due to his place of residence.
[3] As this prophet, who was also of priestly descent, would have profaned himself if he had touched the corpse of a Jew, it was concluded that this woman, whose son (Jonah) he "took to his bosom" and revived, was a non-Jew.
[6] His wife is given as an example of a woman voluntarily assuming duties not incumbent on her, for she is remembered as having made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem on the Shalosh regalim.
[11] At this Jonah rejoiced, regarding it as indicating that his plan would succeed, and in his joy he paid his passage-money in advance, contrary to the usual custom, which did not require its payment until the conclusion of the voyage.
[12] But all this happened to teach him the fallacy of his conclusion that God could be evaded,[13] for the contrary wind affected his ship only; all others on the sea at that time proceeded uninterruptedly on their courses.
[15] After the sailors' prayers to their idols, as well as their efforts to turn about and lighten the ship, had proved futile, the crew finally was compelled to believe Jonah's statement that this calamity had befallen their craft on his account, and assented to his petition to be thrown overboard.
To reward him for this service the fish showed Jonah all the wondrous things in the ocean (e.g., the path of the Israelites across the Red Sea; the pillars upon which the earth rests).
Cramped for room and otherwise made miserable, Jonah finally prayed, acknowledging the futility of his efforts to escape from God.Psalms 139 But he was not answered until he had promised to redeem his pledge to capture Leviathan.
When the crew of the ship saw this they immediately threw away their idols, sailed back to Joppa, went to Jerusalem, and submitted to circumcision, becoming Jews.
When Jonah was thrown into the sea his soul immediately left his body and soared up to God's throne, where it was judged and sent back.