When considering the likely BullShit Quotient of the Jonah story it is important to recall that both Judah and Israel were landlocked states. The Philistines and Phoenicians controlled the coasts from Syria to Egypt.
So maybe they heard fish stories about whales from actual seafarers and being ignorant country bumpkins they fell for it.
So maybe they heard fish stories about whales from actual seafarers and being ignorant country bumpkins they fell for it.