Jon 1:1
1:1 Now the word of the LORD came {a} unto 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; @2Ki 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; @Eze 1:1.

Jon 1:2
1:2 Arise, go to {b} Nineveh, that {c} great city, and cry
    against it; for their wickedness is 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; @Jon 4:11.

Jon 1:3
1:3 But Jonah rose up to {d} flee unto Tarshish from the
    presence of the LORD, and went down to {e} 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 {f} presence of the LORD.

    (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; @Jon 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.

Jon 1:5
1:5 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
    {g} into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast
    asleep.

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

Jon 1:6
1:6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What
    meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy {h} God, if so
    be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

    (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.

Jon 1:7
1:7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast
    {i} lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil [is]
    upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon 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.

Jon 1:14
1:14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, {k} 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.

     (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.

Jon 1:16
1:16 Then the men {l} feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a
     sacrifice unto the LORD, 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.

Jon 1:17
1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.
     And Jonah was in the {m} 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.



This document (last modified July 21, 1997) from Believerscafe.com
Home | Bible versions | Bible Dictionary | Christian Classics | Christian Articles | Daily Devotions

Sister Projects: Wikichristian | WikiMD

BelieversCafe is a large collection of christian articles with over 40,000 pages


Our sponsors:   sleep and weight loss center W8MD sleep and weight loss center