Jonah 1

Jonah 1:1

IOnah the sonne of Amittai] Called, Matthew 12:39. Jonas. After that he had preached a long time in Israel, among the tenne Tribes about the times of Jeroboam the sonne of Joas, 2 Kings 14:25.

Jonah 1:2

Nineeh] For seeing the great obstinacie of the Israelites, God sent his Prophet to the Gentiles, that they might provoke Israel to repentance; or at least make them inexcusable: for Nineveh was the chiefe citie of the Assyrians.

great citie] Chap. 3. 3. For as Authours write, it contained in circuite about eight and forty miles; and had a thousand and five hundred towers; and at this time there were an hundred and twenty thousand children therein, Chap. 4. 11. See Genesis 10:11-12. Jonah 3:3.

for their wickednesse] Genesis 18:20-21.

Jonah 1:3

Jonah rose up to flee] Whereby he declared his weaknesse, that would not promptly follow the Lords calling; but gave place to his own reason, which perswaded him that he should nothing at all profit there, seeing he had done so small good among his own people, Chap. 4. 2.

Tarshish] The most common opinion is, that he meaneth the citie of Tarsus in Cilicia, the countrey of the Apostle Paul, Act. 21 39. & 22. 3. Others translate it, to flie by sea.

from the presence of the LORD] Namely, from the land of Israel where God made his abode in grace and vertue, and where he appeared to his Prophets. Or it is a phrase taken from slaves, who by stealth runne away from their masters service: to shew that he did runne away from the vocation whereunto God had called him, and wherein he would have assisted him.

Joppa] Which was the haven, and port to take shipping thither; called also Joppe, Acts 9:36. See Joshua 19:46. 2 Chronicles 2:16.

Jonah 1:4

sent out] Heb. cast forth.

was like to be broken] Heb thought to be broken.

Jonah 1:5

into the sides of the ship] As one that would have cast off his car and sollicitude, by seeking rest and quietnesse.

Jonah 1:6

call upon thy God] As they had called on their idols; which declareth that idolaters have no stay nor certainty, but in their troubles seek, they cannot tell to whom.

Jonah 1:7

and let us cast lots] Observing this tempest to be extraordinary not without Gods secret providence they conjecture that there was some body in the ship that was guilty of some grievous sinne: wherefore they desire to discover the truth by lots, according to the heathens custome, but God is president over them, Proverbs 16:33.

Jonah 1:9

I fear the LORD the God of heaven] My religion is to serve and worship him onely.

Jonah 1:10

exceedingly afraid] Heb. with great fear.

Why hast thou done this] What great fault hast thou committed?

Jonah 1:11

may be calm unto us] Heb. may be silent from us.

wrought and was tempestuous] Or, grew more and more tempestuous. Heb. went.

Jonah 1:12

he said unto them] By inward revelation from God, more then by any discourse of reason.

Jonah 1:13

rowed] Heb. digged.

Jonah 1:14

we beseech thee] This declareth that the very wicked in their necesities flie unto God for succour, and also that they are touched with a certain fear to shed mans bloud, when as they know no manifest signe of wickednesse.

hast done as it pleaseth thee] We do acknowledge in all this expresse signes of thy power, justice, and supreame providence, to which because we will not displease thee, we submit our selves, to performe this execution.

Jonah 1:15

ceased] Heb. stoo.

Jonah 1:16

feared the LORD exceedingly] They were touched with a certaine repentance of their life past, and began to worship the true God, by whom they saw themselves so wonderfully delivered.

offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows] Heb. sacrificed a sacrifice unto the LORD, and vowed vowes.

Jonah 1:17

Jonah was] Matthew 12:40. & Matthew 16:4. Luke 11:30.

belly of the fish] Heb. bowels. Thus the Lord would chastise his Prophet with a most terrible spectacle of death; and hereby confirmed him also of his favour and support in this his charge which was enjoyned him.