THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JONAH _Chronological Notes relative to this Book, upon the supposition_ _that the repentance of the Ninevites happened in the twenty-third_ _year of the reign of Jehu, king of Israel._ -Year from the Creation, according to Archbishop Usher, 3142. -Year of the Julian Perio... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jonah 1:2. _GO TO NINEVEH_] This was the capital of the Assyrian empire, and one of the most _ancient_ cities of the world, Genesis 10:10-1; and one of the _largest_, as it was _three days' journey in circumference_. Ancient writers represent it as _oblong_; being in length _one hundred and_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jonah 1:3. _TO FLEE UNTO TARSHISH_] Some say _Tartessus_, in Spain, near the straits of Gibralter, others, _Tarsus_, in _Cilicia_; and others, _Taprobana_, or the island of Ceylon, formerly called Taprobah; and _Tabrobavagh_ in Sanscrit, to the present day. _AND WENT DOWN TO JOPPA_] This plac... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jonah 1:4. _A GREAT WIND_] They were overtaken with a _storm_, which appears from the sequel to have come by the immediate direction of God. _LIKE TO BE BROKEN_] They had nearly suffered _shipwreck_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _CRIED EVERY MAN UNTO HIS GOD_] The _ship's crew_ were all heathens; and, it is probable, heathens who had each a different object of religious worship. _CAST FORTH THE WARES_] Threw the _lading overboard_ to lighten the ship, hoping the better to _ride out_ the storm. _JONAH WAS GONE DOW... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _THE SHIPMASTER_] Either the _captain_ or the _pilot_. _ARISE, CALL UPON THY GOD_] He supposed that Jonah had _his_ god, as well as they had _theirs_; and that, as the danger was imminent, every man should use the influence he had, as they were all equally involved in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _COME, AND LET US CAST LOTS_] This was a very ancient mode of endeavouring to find out the mind of Divine Providence; and in this case it proves that they supposed the storm to have arisen on account of some hidden crime of some person _aboard_. A philosopher being at sea in a violent stor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _TELL US - FOR WHOSE CAUSE_] A very gentle method of bringing the charge home to himself, and the several questions here asked gave the utmost latitude to make the best of his own case.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _I FEAR THE LORD_] In this Jonah was _faithful_. He gave an honest testimony concerning the God he served, which placed him before the eyes of the sailors as infinitely higher than the objects of their adoration; for the God of Jonah _was the God of_ _heaven, who made the sea and the dry la... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jonah 1:11. _WHAT SHALL WE DO UNTO THEE_] In these poor men there was an uncommon degree of _humanity_ and _tender feeling_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jonah 1:12. _I KNOW THAT FOR MY SAKE_] I am not worthy to live; _throw me overboard_. God will not quiet the storm till I am cast out of the ship. Here was deep compunction; and honest avowal of sin; and a justification of the displeasure which God had now manifested.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jonah 1:13. _THE MEN ROWED HARD_] Were very unwilling to proceed to this extremity, and thought they would risk every thing rather than cast this disobedient prophet into the great deep.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jonah 1:14. _THEY CRIED UNTO THE LORD_] Under a conviction that he was the self-existing Being, the Maker of the heavens and the earth, and the author of the present storm, they put up their prayers to him. _LET US NOT PERISH FOR THIS MAN'S LIFE_] They were now about to _cast him overboard_;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jonah 1:16. _OFFERED A SACRIFICE_] The first perhaps ever offered on board a vessel since the ark floated on the waters of the great deluge; and it is most probable that these heathens, witnessing what was done, became sincere converts to the true God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jonah 1:17. _NOW THE LORD HAD PREPARED A GREAT FISH_] דג גדול _dag_ _gadol_. This could not have been a _whale_, for the throat of that animal can scarcely admit a man's leg; but it might have been a _shark_, which abounds in the Mediterranean, and whose mouth and stomach are exceedingly capa... [ Continue Reading ]