Jonah Runs from God
Study note
Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, which was cruel and feared by Israel. Tarshish was a distant port in the opposite direction, probably in modern-day Spain. Joppa was a seaport on the coast of Israel.
1 One day the LORD spoke to Jonah son of Amittai. Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2 "Get moving," God told him. "Travel to the enormous city of Nineveh and preach against it. I have seen how wicked its people are." Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
3 But instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah took off running in the opposite direction — away from the LORD. He headed down to the port of Joppa, found a ship bound for Tarshish, paid for a ticket, and climbed aboard. He was determined to put as much distance between himself and the LORD as possible. 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.
The Great Storm at Sea
Study note
The sailors were pagans who each prayed to their own gods. Casting lots was a common way in the ancient world to seek answers from the gods about who was at fault.
4 But the LORD hurled a ferocious wind across the sea. A massive storm hit, and the ship was in danger of breaking apart. 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.
5 The sailors panicked. Each one started praying to his own god. They threw the cargo overboard to lighten the load. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone below deck, curled up, and fallen sound asleep. 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.
6 The ship's captain found him and shook him awake. "How can you sleep through this?" he demanded. "Get up and pray to your God! Maybe he will pay attention and keep us all alive!" 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.
7 The sailors decided to draw straws to figure out who had brought this catastrophe on them. They drew, and the finger pointed straight at Jonah. 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.
8 They bombarded him with questions: "Tell us — who caused this disaster? What do you do for a living? Where are you from? What nation are you part of?" 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?
9 "I am a Hebrew," Jonah told them. "I worship the LORD, the God of heaven — the one who made the sea and the dry land." 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.
10 That terrified the sailors even more. "What on earth have you done?" they gasped. They already knew he was running from the LORD because he had admitted it to them. 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.
Jonah Is Thrown into the Sea
Study note
The sailors tried hard to save Jonah before throwing him overboard. Their prayer shows they feared the LORD and did not want to be guilty of killing an innocent man. The great fish was prepared by God as an act of rescue, not punishment.
11 The waves were getting higher by the minute. "What do we need to do with you to calm this storm?" they asked desperately. 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.
12 "Pick me up and throw me overboard," Jonah said. "Then the sea will calm down. This whole terrible storm is happening because of me." 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.
13 The sailors tried rowing to shore instead, but it was hopeless. The storm only raged harder against them. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
14 So they cried out to the LORD, "Please, LORD, do not kill us for what we are about to do! Do not hold us responsible for this man's death! You are the LORD — you do whatever you choose." 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.
15 Then they picked Jonah up and tossed him into the sea. Instantly, the raging water went still. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
16 The sailors were overcome with awe for the LORD. They offered sacrifices to him and made promises to serve him. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
17 Meanwhile, the LORD had arranged for an enormous fish to swallow Jonah whole. Jonah sat inside the belly of that fish for three days and three nights. 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.