14. Appearing in cultures and civilizations around the world, the biblical story of Jonah is merely a regurgitation of an existing and common story trope
The eponymous lead character of the Book of Jonah (Hebrew Bible), in punishment for defying God, Jonah is swallowed by a giant fish until he consents to perform the task assigned. Appearing in the mythologies of countless preexisting civilizations, the story of Jonah is widely accepted as being unoriginal and derivative. Commonalities can be found, in particular, with the Hindu legend of Saktideva. Saktideva, wishing to marry the Princess of Vardhamanapura, embarks upon a journey to discover the Golden City to win her hand in marriage. During this adventure, Saktideva is devoured by a giant fish before being eventually freed unharmed.
Examining the biblical story more broadly, narrative parallels containing a hero being swallowed by a giant fish appear in almost all known civilizations as a metaphorical representation of rebirth. In ancient Babylon, the Whale of Der swallows and subsequently gives birth to Oannes; the Finnish hero Ilmarinen is swallowed in order to, likewise, be reborn; and Heracles, copied once again, is swallowed in the course of fighting a sea monster before defeating the beast from the inside. Significantly, and suggesting heavy influence, Heracles is swallowed near the port of Jaffa – the place of nautical departure in the biblical story of Jonah.