As I have before observed, Jonah seems here indirectly to intimate, (9) that he had been previously called to the office of a teacher; for it is the same as though he had said, that he framed this history as a part of his ordinary function. The word of God then was not for the first time communicate... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arise, go to Nineveh, to that great city. _Nineveh is called a great city, and not without reason; for it was in circumference, as heathen writers say, 400 stadia: and we shall see that Jonah was three whole days in going through the squares and streets of the city (11). It hence follows, that it w... [ Continue Reading ]
Jonah now relates how he sought hiding-places, that he might withdraw himself from the service of God; not that he deceived himself with such a gross notion, as that he would be no longer under the power of God, after having passed over the sea; but he intended to shun, as it were, the light of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Jonah declares here how he had been, as it were, by force brought back by the Lord, when he tried to flee away from his presence. He then says that a _tempest arose in the sea; _but he at the same time tells us, that this tempest did not arise by chance, as ungodly men are wont to say, who ascribe e... [ Continue Reading ]
This narrative, in which Jonah relates in order so many circumstances, is not without its use; for, as we shall presently see, he intended to set forth his own insensibility, and to lay it before us as painted before our eyes: and the comparison, which is implied in the circumstances, greatly illust... [ Continue Reading ]
Jonah relates here how he was reproved by the pilot or master of the ship (18), inasmuch as he alone slept, while all the rest were in anxiety and fear. “What meanest thou, fast sleeper?” The pilot no doubt upbraids Jonah for his sleepiness, and reproves him for being almost void of all thought and... [ Continue Reading ]
Jonah did not without reason mention this, — that the passengers consulted together about casting lots; for we hence learn, that it was no ordinary tempest: it appeared then to be a token of God’s wrath. For, if strong wind arose, it would not have been so strange, for such had been often the case;... [ Continue Reading ]
After the lot fell on Jonah, they doubted not but that he was the guilty person, any more than if he had been a hundred times proved to be so: for why did they cast lots, except that they were persuaded that all doubt could thus be removed, and that what was hid could thus be brought to the light? A... [ Continue Reading ]
I now come to his answer, _He said to them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear Jehovah the God of heaven, Who has created the sea and the dry land _(24) Here Jonah seemed as yet to evade, yea, to disown his crime, for he professed himself to be the worshipper of the true God. Who would not have said, but th... [ Continue Reading ]
It then follows, that the men feared with great fear, and said, _Why hast thou done this? _(26) for they knew that he had fled from the presence of Jehovah, for he had told them. And this is not unimportant — that _the sailors feared with great fear: _for Jonah means that they were not only moved by... [ Continue Reading ]
The sailors asked counsel of Jonah; and hence it appears that they were touched with so much fear as not to dare to do any thing to him. We hence see how much they had improved almost in an instant, since they spared an Israelite, because they acknowledged that among that people the true God was wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Jonah then answers, _Take me, and throw me into the sea, and it will be still to you. _It may be asked whether Jonah ought to have of his own accord offered himself to die; for it seemed to be an evidence of desperation. He might, indeed, have surrendered himself to their will; but here he did, as i... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse shows that the sailors and the rest were more inclined to mercy, when they saw that the holy Prophet was willing to undergo the punishment which he had deserved. When therefore, he confessed that he was guilty, and refused not to be punished, they became anxious to spare his life, though... [ Continue Reading ]
I come now to the second verse. _They cried, _he says, _to Jehovah and said, We beseech _(30) _, Jehovah, let us not perish, we pray, on account of the life of this man, and give not, _that is, lay not, _innocent blood upon us _(31) The Prophet now expresses more fully why the sailors toiled so much... [ Continue Reading ]
Jonah shows here that the tempest arose through his fault; for the issue proved this with certainty. The sailors had not only cast lots, but after Jonah was thrown into the sea the storm calmed, and the sea became still, — this sudden change sufficiently proved that Jonah was the only cause why they... [ Continue Reading ]
Jonah now declares what fruit followed; and first, he says, that the sailors feared the true God. He uses here the proper name of God, Jehovah; for, as we have already seen, they were addicted to their own superstitions, as each of them cried to his own god: but it was a false notion; for they went... [ Continue Reading ]
What the Prophet here briefly relates ought to be carefully weighed by us. It is easily passed over, when we read in a few words that Jonah was swallowed up by a fish, and that he was there three days and three nights: but though Jonah neither amplified or illustrated in a rhetorical manner what is... [ Continue Reading ]