Bible Commentaries

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Jonah 1

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Introduction

1  Jonah, sent to Nineveh, flees to Tarshish.
4  He is bewrayed by a tempest;
11  thrown into the sea;
17  and swallowed by a fish.
Verse 1

Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Jonah
2 Kings 14:25, Matthew 12:39, 16:4, Luke 11:29,30,32
Jonas
Verse 2

Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Nineveh
3:2, 4:11, Genesis 10:11, 2 Kings 19:36, Nahum 1:1, 2:1-3, Zephaniah 2:13-15
cry
3:2, Isaiah 58:1, Jeremiah 1:7-10, Ezekiel 2:7, 3:5-9, Micah 3:8, Matthew 10:18
for
Genesis 18:20,21, Ezra 9:6, James 5:4, Revelation 18:5
Verse 3

But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
to flee
4:2, Exodus 4:13,14, 1 Kings 19:3,9, Jeremiah 20:7-9, Ezekiel 3:14, Luke 9:62, Acts 15:38, 26:19, 1 Corinthians 9:16
from
Genesis 3:8, 4:16, Job 1:12, 2:7, Psalms 139:7-12, 2 Thessalonians 1:9
Joppa
Joshua 19:46, 2 Chronicles 2:16, Acts 9:36
Tarshish
As Jonah embarked at Joppa, a seaport on the Mediterranean, it was probably either Tarsus in Cilicia, or rather Tartessus in Spain, to which he intended to flee. When we reflect how such a message would be received in the streets of London at this day, we shall not wonder at the prophet's reluctance to announce the destruction of the proud and idolatrous Nineveh.
Isaiah 2:16, 23:1,6,10, 60:9, Ezekiel 27:12
Verse 4

But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
the Lord
Exodus 10:13,19, 14:21, 15:10, Numbers 11:31, Psalms 107:24-31, 135:7, Amos 4:13, Matthew 8:24-27, Acts 27:13-20
sent out
Heb. cast forth. like. Heb. thought.
Verse 5

Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
cried
6,14,16, 1 Kings 18:26, Isaiah 44:17-20, 45:20, Jeremiah 2:28, Hosea 7:14
and cast
Job 2:4, Acts 27:18,19,38, Philippians 3:7,8
the sides
1 Samuel 24:3
and was
Judges 16:19, Matthew 25:5, 26:40,41,43,45, Luke 22:45,46
Verse 6

So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
What
Isaiah 3:15, Ezekiel 18:2, Acts 21:13, Romans 13:11, Ephesians 5:14
arise
Psalms 78:34, 107:6,12,13,18-20,28,29, Jeremiah 2:27,28, Mark 4:37-41
if
3:9, 2 Samuel 12:22, Esther 4:16, Joel 2:11, Amos 5:15
Verse 7

And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
every
Judges 7:13,14, Isaiah 41:6,7
and let
Joshua 7:14-18, Judges 20:9,10, 1 Samuel 10:20,21, 14:41,42, Esther 3:7, Psalms 22:18, Proverbs 16:33, Matthew 27:35, Acts 1:23-26, 13:19
for
Joshua 7:10,13, 22:16-20, 1 Samuel 14:38,39, Job 10:2
and the
Numbers 32:23, Joshua 7:18, 1 Corinthians 4:5
Verse 8

Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
Tell
Joshua 7:19, 1 Samuel 14:43, James 5:16
What is thine
Genesis 47:3, 1 Samuel 30:13
Verse 9

And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
I am
Genesis 14:13, 39:14, Philippians 3:5
and I
2 Kings 17:25,28,32-35, Job 1:9, Hosea 3:5, Acts 27:23, Revelation 15:4
the Lord
or, Jehovah. the God.
Ezra 1:2, 5:11, 7:12,13, Nehemiah 1:4, 2:4, Psalms 136:26, Daniel 2:18,19,44, Revelation 11:13, 16:11
which
Nehemiah 9:6, Psalms 95:5,6, 146:5,6, Acts 14:15, 17:23-25
Verse 10

Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
were
John 19:8
exceedingly afraid
Heb. afraid, with great fear.
Daniel 5:6-9
Why
Joshua 7:25, 2 Samuel 24:3
he fled
3, Job 27:22
Verse 11

Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
What
1 Samuel 6:2,3, 2 Samuel 21:1-6, 24:11-13, Micah 6:6,7
calm unto us
Heb. silent from us. wrought, and was tempestuous. or, grew more and more tempestuous. Heb. went and was, etc.
Verse 12

And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
Take
2 Samuel 24:17, John 11:50
for
Joshua 7:12,20,21, 1 Chronicles 21:17, Ecclesiastes 9:18, Acts 27:24
Verse 13

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
Nevertheless the
There was great humanity and tender feeling in these men. They were probably affected deeply with the candid confession, the disinterested, submissive conduct of the disobedient prophet, and were unwilling to cast him into the deep, until they found that every effort to save themselves was in vain.
rowed
Heb. digged. but.
Job 34:29, Proverbs 21:30
Verse 14

Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
they
5,16, Psalms 107:28, Isaiah 26:16
let
Genesis 9:6, Deuteronomy 21:8, Acts 28:4
for
Psalms 115:3, 135:6, Daniel 4:34,35, Matthew 11:26, Ephesians 1:9,11
Verse 15

So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
they
Joshua 7:24-26, 2 Samuel 21:8,9
and the
Psalms 89:9, 93:3,4, 107:29, Matthew 8:26, Luke 8:24
ceased
Heb. stood.
Verse 16

Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
feared
10, Isaiah 26:9, Daniel 4:34-37, 6:26, Mark 4:31, Acts 5:11
offered, etc
Heb. sacrificed a sacrifice unto the Lord, and vowed vows.
Genesis 8:20, Judges 13:16, 2 Kings 5:17, Psalms 107:22, Isaiah 60:5-7
made
Genesis 28:20, Psalms 50:14, 66:13-16, 116:14, Ecclesiastes 5:4
Verse 17

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
the Lord
4:6, Genesis 1:21, Psalms 104:25,26, Habakkuk 3:2
in
Matthew 12:40, 16:4, Luke 11:30
belly
Heb. bowels.

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