Who wrote the book of Jonah?

Answer 1

The book of Jonah is anonymous, and in more recent years it has come to be believed that the book is about Jonah rather than by him, although Jewish tradition holds that the author was Jonah himself.

Dr John MacArthur, in the "MacArthur Study Bible", says that:The book makes no direct claim regarding ownership...causing some to search for another author. [However] it was not an uncommon OT practice to write in the third person, [t]he autobiographical information ...points to Jonah as the author, [and t]he context places him during...the reign of Jeroboam (ca. 793-753 BC) making him a prophet to the northern tribes just prior to Amos during the first half of the eighth century BC, ca 760 BC....Jewish tradition says [he] was the son of the widow of Zarephath whom Elijah raised from the dead.

Answer 2

In his Study Bible, John MacArthur says that it was not uncommon in the Old Testament for someone to write in the 3rd person, and that the autobiographical details clearly prove Jonah wrote the Book of Jonah.