Jonah Chapter 1

From The Open Bible Project

1:1 Now the word of [1] Yahweh [See Jonah Footnotes 1] came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

• The Argument - When Jonah had long prophesied in Israel and had little profited, God gave him specific charge to go and denounce his judgments against Nineveh, the chief city of the Assyrians, because he had appointed that those who were of the heathen, should convert by the mighty power of his word. And this was so that within three day’s preaching, Israel might see how horribly they had provoked God’s wrath, who for the space of so many years, had not converted to the Lord, for so many prophets and such diligent preaching. He prophesied under Jonah, and Jeroboam; (2 Kings 14:25).
• (a) After he had preached a long time in Israel: and so Ezekiel, after he had prophesied in Judah for a time, had visions in Babylon; (Ezekiel 1:1).

1:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me."

• (b) For seeing the great obstipation of the Israelites, he sent his Prophet to the Gentiles, that they might provoke them to repentance, or at least make them inexcusable: for Nineveh was the chief city of the Assyrians.
• (c) For as authors write, it contained in circuit about forty-eight miles, and had 1500 towers, and at this time there were 120,000 children in it; (Jonah 4:11).

1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh.

• (d) By which he declares his weakness, that would not promptly follow the Lord’s calling, but gave place to his own reason, which persuaded him that he would not profit these people at all, seeing he had done such little good among his own people; (Jonah 4:2).
• (e) Which was the haven, and port to take shipping there, also called Joppa.
• (f) From that vocation to which God had called him, and in which he would have assisted him.

1:4 But Yahweh sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty storm on the sea, so that the ship was likely to break up.

1:5 Then the mariners were afraid, and every man cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship, and he was laying down, and was fast asleep.

• (g) As one that would have cast off this care and concern by seeking rest and quietness.

1:6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your [2] God [See Jonah Footnotes 2]! Maybe your [3] God [See Jonah Footnotes 3] will notice us, so that we won't perish."

• (h) As they had called on their idols, which declares that idolaters have no rest nor certainty, but in their troubles seek what they do not even know.

1:7 They all said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know who is responsible for this evil that is on us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

• (i) Which declares that the matter was very extreme and in doubt, which was God’s way of getting them to test for the cause: and this may not be done except in matters of great importance.

1:8 Then they asked him, "Tell us, please, for whose cause this evil is on us. What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? Of what people are you?"

1:9 He said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear Yahweh, the [4] God [See Jonah Footnotes 4] of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land."

1:10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "What is this that you have done?" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of Yahweh, because he had told them.

1:11 Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you, that the sea may be calm to us?" For the sea grew more and more stormy.

1:12 He said to them, "Take me up, and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will be calm for you; for I know that because of me this great storm is on you."

1:13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them.

1:14 Therefore they cried to Yahweh, and said, "We beg you, Yahweh, we beg you, don't let us die for this man's life, and don't lay on us innocent blood; for you, Yahweh, have done as it pleased you."

• (k) This declares that the very wicked in their time of need flee to God for help, and also that they are touched with a certain fear of shedding man’s blood, whereas they know no manifest sign of wickedness.

1:15 So they took up Jonah, and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased its raging.

1:16 Then the men feared Yahweh exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh, and made vows.

• (l) They were touched with a certain repentance of their past life, and began to worship the true God by whom they saw themselves as wonderfully delivered. But this was done for fear, and not from a pure heart and affection, neither according to God’s word.

1:17 Yahweh prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

• (m) Thus the Lord would chastise his Prophet with a most terrible spectacle of death, and by this also strengthened and encouraged him of his favour and support in this duty which was commanded him.