Why is Jonah not listed among those who prophesied mostly to the nations? Is there a tradition that he prophesied primarily to Jews?
Steven Friedell, Camden, NJ
The Malbim writes at the beginning of Sefer Yonah that although Yonah said his prophecy to Ninveh, the subject of his prophecy was the Jews.
In addition, the commentaries mention other prophecies attributed to him such as the warning given to Yeravam ben Yoash (Melachim II 14:25).
D. Zupnik
As I understand the Malbim, the Nevuah was for Ninveh, but it was needed in order to fulfill another prophecy for the Jews, if so it is IMHO hard to explain the Gemara with that approach.
In addition, the commentaries mention other prophecies attributed to him
such as the warning given to Yeravam ben Yoash (Melachim II 14:25).
See Yevomos 98a, that it is a Machlokes and according to (one understanding in the Deiah of) RNB"Y the only Nevuah Yonah had was this one, see Tos. there, and also the Radak on Yonah, however RNB"Y may be of the opinion that Elihu Ben Brache-l is Bilaam as Rabi Akiva holds (brought from the Yerushalmi Soteh 5 in the Yalkut Shimonee Iyuv 32), whereas Rabi Akiva doesn't hold like this Gemara who mentions both (Bilaam and Elihu Ben Brache-l) as 2 separate Nvi'im, (according to Rabi Akiva the fact that Elhu's father is mentioned which normally indicates that the father was also a prophet, is well understood (and avoids the question of the Maharsha)). It also would seem that RNB"Y would disagree with the count of the 48 Nvi'im mentioned in Rashi Megila 14a that includes Yona, which is not a terrible problem since there are others that can be used to get 48 (see Mforshim there), in addition here the Mal.
See also Pirkei Drabi Eliezer Perek 10 and the RaDaL there.
Kol Tuv,
Yitzchok Zirkind