Heidegger's Bible Handbook: Jonah: Author

1.  The author of the Prophecy, יוֹנָה/Jonah.  The tradition of the Hebrews, that he was the son of the widow, raised by Elijah, displayed.

The author of the Prophecy, יוֹנָה/Jonah, which signifies either dove[1] or oppressor,[2] Zephaniah 3:1,[3] was the  בֶּן־אֲמִתַּי, son of Amittai, Jonah 1:1.  The Hebrews speak nonsense, asserting that he was the son of that widow, who fed Elijah, and whom Elijah vivified, 1 Kings 17:22, and that therefore he was called the son of Amittai, because in him the truth[4] of the Prophecy of Elijah was fulfilled.  Certainly that widow was of Zarephath, a Zidonian by nation;[5] but Jonah was מִגַּת הַחֵפֶר, of Gath-hepher (2 Kings 14:25), a place in the tribe of Zebulun, Joshua 19:13, between Sepharim and Tiberias,[6] as Jerome relates, and so he originated from Galilee of the Gentiles (Isaiah 9:1), which, it is to be noted in passing against that saying of the Pharisees to Nicodemus, John 7:52 (Search, and know, that out of Galilee has arisen no Prophet).  From the same passage in 2 Kings 14:25 it is gathered that he prophesied, not only before the Ninevites, but also in Israel.

[1] יוֹנָה signifies dove.

[2] יָנָה signifies to oppress.

[3] Zephaniah 3:1:  “Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing cityהָעִ֖יר) הַיּוֹנָֽה׃)!”

[4] אֱמֶת/emet signifies truth.

[5] See 1 Kings 17:9.

[6] Tiberias is on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.