Matthew Poole and continuators on Jonah 1

1 NOW the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai , saying,

And Hebr.

Which is a usual description of Prophesie▪ what God had to speak against Niniveh, he here does reveal to Ionah with command that he publish it to those concerned in it;

Or was with.

Called Ionas, Luk. 11.30. which signifieth a Dove; he was of Gath Hepher a Town of Zebulon, 2 Kings 14.25. but no more is added, by which I conjecture it was some obscure place, to which Ionah gave more light than it could to him.

Of what rank he was, appears not.

Marginal references: Math. 12.39. [illegible: 1 letter]onas.

2 Arise , go to Nineveh that great city , and cry against it for their wickedness is come up before me .

Forthwith prepare thy self, and get all in readiness, and with hearty resolution set upon the work.

So soon as thou art ready, set forward on thy journy▪ make not any delay.

The chief City, or Metropolis of the Assyrian Kingdom built by Ashur, Gen. 10.11. if this verse be not better translated, thus He (i. e. Nimrod) went out into Assyria, and builded Nineveh, so Nimrod the Founder, and first Builder.

It may be easily conjectur'd a great City, which was scituate on such a River as Tigris is, had continued so many hundred years from 1719 of the World in which 'twas built, unto 3124, about which time Ionah was sent to Preach against it; during which long growth it may be conceived as great as 'tis ordinarily described, 150 Furlongs in length, that is eighteen miles, and three quarters of a mile of our English measure, and eleven miles and one quarter of the same measure in breadth.

Earnestly, and publickly, preach against the sins, and denounce the sudden ruin of that City unless they repent. So cry that all may hear, or at least all may come to the knowledge of what is threatned.

Their many and great sins, as 'tis said of Cain's sin when he had slain Abel, Gen. 4.10. and Sodoms sins, Gen. 18 20, 21. and the sins of oppressours, Iames. 5.4. cry aloud, the cry enters Heaven, and justice must no longer defer, yet I will give them warning, Ionah, go thou, and tell them plainly, their great sins shall be greatly punisht.

Marginal references: Ezra. 9.6. [illegible: 1 word]. 18.[illegible: 1 letter].

3 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.

And Heb.

He was commanded to arise, ver. 2. so here Ionah did, but 'twas to run from his business, not to do it; 'twas a rising against God.

Whatever was the cause which moved Ionah to do this▪ It is strange that he should fall into a f[illegible: 1 letter]xt opinion, that he might, and a fixt resolution that he would, thus [illegible: 1 word] from his God, and from his Duty.

To Se[illegible: 1 letter], as some, but this seemeth too rambling a humour, to Cilicia say others, and particularly to Tarsus no mean City of Cilicia, Act. 21.39. others say 'twas Tunis or Carthage in Africa, to which Ionah minded to fly, either of these carry such probability with them, that we will not determine for our reader.

I cannot suppose Ionah dream't of flying from the omnipresence of God, he knew how David described this Psal. 139.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. and Natural reason told him he could never fly from this; but this presence of God is to be interpreted of the place where God usually had shewed himself present by revealing his word and will to his Prophets, who are Servants to the Lord, and as such did stand before the Lord ready to receive his commands; now this command to Ionah being displeasing to him, and yet whilest he was in his own Country, the vally of Vision, he is still put upon the work, now he resolves to shift off the work by shifting place; perhaps he might think God would not put him upon it, when he was gotten into a strange and remote Country, where were no Prophets, nor prophetick impulses.

A well known haven on the Mediterrane, now called Iaffa, antiently Iapho, Ios. 19.46.

Bound for, and ready to set sail for the place he designed.

Forthwith agreed with the Master of the ship, and though unusual, paid presently, staid not till he came to the Port designed.

Immediately went a ship-board, and in a melancholy discomposed humour gets into a Cabin, or under deck,

waiting the time when they should go, that he might be sure to go with them.

Carthage or Tunis, or Tarsus in Cilicia.

Vid. let. q.

Marginal references: Josh. 19.46. Chro. 2.16.

4 ¶ 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 .

The Almighty and Eternal God from whose work Ionah flieth.

God keepeth the winds as in Store-houses, or treasuries, and now brings one forth to fetch back a Fugitive, and obstinate refuser of his Command,

the greatness of it, with the suddenness of its rising, and manner of its working, undeniably shew'd that 'twas supernatural▪ and from God displeased with all, or with some one or other of them.

The winds did not blow aloft over the sea and ship, but as if they had intermixt with the very waters of the Sea, and like an unheard of Hurricane shaked the very keel of the ship;

That part of the Sea where Ionah's ship was, this Messenger soon finds out Ionah, and speaks in most dreadful manner to all in the ship, who all saw and owned it to be from Heaven, the finger of God.

The Master, and Mariners thought they, Ship, and Goods, and all should be lost; the Hebr. expresseth it as if the Ship had sense of God's anger, as if the ship could think, and did think of its own weakness, and God's mighty hand.

Marginal references: Heb. cast forth.; Heb. thought to be broken.

5 Then the mariners were afraid , and cryed 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 gon down into the sides of the ship , and he lay, and was fast asleep ?

When this praeternatural Tempest fell with all its violence into the Sea,

Passengers are not here named, who unaccustomed to Sea, might be too apprehensive of danger, but the men that were acquainted with the Sea, and had seen many a Tempest, and weathered many a storm,

heartily afraid, full of apprehensions that they should be wrack't.

With loud voice and earnest petitions, as the manner of such men is, when danger awakens them to the Duty they neglect whilest safe.

Not a man of them but feared, nor a man of them but cryed out, by which it is evident it twas a most dreadful storm.

By this it appears that the ships crue was a mixture of men who worshipt several Gods, and every one doth now cry to the God whom he Worshipt, what ever God it might be, 'twas not he that did raise, nor could allay the Tempest.

When Prayer to their false Gods doth no good, but their danger continued and threatned them with foundring in the Sea; to prevent this, they lighten the ship, as is usual in such cases, and cast the Wares out; not as Sacrifice to the God of the Sea, or as repenting of Piracy by which the Goods were gotten, though some conjecture so, but the Text tells us 'twas to lighten the Ship,

that it may bear up its head, and work with the Sea better than when heavy laden.

The greatest weight, and only danger to Ship and Sea-men

was under the hold in some Cabin or other in the side of the Ship, whither he went before the storm arose

in a very deep sleep, as the word imports.

Marginal references: So Act 27.18, 19.

6 So the ship-master 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 .

Who had the conduct of the Vessel, and from whose mouth such a reproof was seasonable,

missing him, when all the rest were toil'd with labour, and had been crying mightily to their false Gods, but Ionah appeared not.

A very decent yet sharp reproof to him, What mettal art thou made of? Or, What God dost thou fear? Or, Art thou deaf to all the menaces of Heaven?

Awake, get up,

Pray to that God thou worshippest, as we have already each done, for possibly thy God may be mightier than our Gods, and may lay the Tempest that lyeth so heavily upon us.

They had lost the[illegible: 1 letter]r labour seeking to other Gods, yet think it adviseable, that Ionah should try his God too, if so be, &c. Vid. Ioel 2.14. and so Amos 5.15.

With pitty, care, and favour, and do for us in this our strange distress,

that Ship, Goods, and Men too, may not be lost.

7 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 .

After they had prayed, which was necessary in such cases, as being a religious means, and cast out the Goods which loaded the Ship, which was a proper natural means of safety, but none appeared, still the Tempest, and their Danger with it continued, a shrew'd Symptom that there was one or other amongst them whose sins had provoked God to do this, and that 'twere fit to be known who this was, and who e're first moved for making the search, all agree in the expedient.

'Tis like that it was upon the thoughts of many of them, and so exprest here.

It is extraordinary danger we are in, all ordinary means fail, let us try that which hath somewhat extraordinary in it, though many times used, let the lot decide among us who is the cause of all this; lots are an appeal to Heaven in doubtful cases, and therefore not to be used on trifling, or unnecessary cases, but where the matter is great, difficult, or undeterminable in any other way, as Scripture instances of lots do inform us. Lev. 16.8, 9. Numb. 26.55. Iosh. 14.2. and 18.6. and 21. 4, 5, &c. 1 Sam. 10.20. &c. Neh. 10.34. and 11.1. Saul chosen by lot, and Acts 1.26.

Very great, unusual, and praeternatural Tempest, not one among them but had deserved more, yet they surmise some notorious offender amongst them, or this had not been.

They act according to what was proposed.

God determins and singles out Ionah.

8 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 countrey , and of what people art thou ?

When the lot pointed out Ionah, these Marriners all are satisfied that he was the man; that Heaven had determined that grand Enquiry, and accordingly they treat with him.

They do try what fair means will do with him, and desire to have the account from his own mouth; so Ioshua dealt with Achan, Iosh. 7. satisfied in the person, next they do with commendable justice, and calmness enquire into the thing.

What hast thou done, for which God is so angry with thee, and with us for thy sake; sure thou canst not but know what 'tis, and now frankly tell us

what course of Life hast thou lived, or what Imployment dost thou now profess to follow, that we may guess by that whether thou art one of flagitious, or of honest Life?

E're he give answer to this, probably another asketh whence he cometh, what Company he had kept; by this they conjecture at the man.

Another starts a third Enquiry, what Country or Nation he is of, to those Ports Persons of different Nations flockt, possibly they hoped some or other in the ship might be his Country-men, and so fittest to e[illegible: 1 letter]amin him.

This seems to be the same question repeated, or else an Enquiry where he dwelt. These the heads of the Questions askt him.

9 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 .

Ionah freely and readily gives account of himself.

One that am descended from Heber, whose Off-spring by Abraham are well known, and probably to these Mariners, he saith not a Iew, because he was not in strictness of speech, for he was of the Tribe of Zebulun, nor an Israelite distinguisht from the Iew, lest he should seem to own himself of that Idolatrous Faction.

I worship and serve the true God only, or possibly it may imply that his employment was in the immediate service of God, as a Religious person that had abdicated the World, and dedicated himself to God.

The Eternal, and Almighty God, yours are upstart Gods, and have no power or might, nor can they do any thing.

Who first made, now ruleth, and ever will rule the Heavens which none of your Gods can pretend to, those Heavens from whence you see this storm falleth.

That Sea which now threatens you for my sake, and threatens me for my sin, my God hath raised the Sea in his quarrel to contend thus furiously, and he can, and none but he can command it to be still.

A Description of the Earth, you would get thither, but all your Gods cannot bring you thither, or give you to set one foot upon it if my God say no. This is the sum of what Ionah declares, by which he intimateth his innocency from any flagitious Crime as they might imagin him guilty, and yet confesseth the greatness of his sin which he had before told them, though they understood it not, or thought light of it, he fled from the presence of the Lord.

10 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

When Ionah had declared his God, whose power and wrath these Mariners saw and heard in the Tempest, and what sin of his was now punisht, and how they had taken him into their ship, knowing that he did run away from this mighty God.

Their fear was doubled, every thing now represents horrour to them, their own danger, Nineveh's approaching dismal ruin which they believe by what they see; satisfied, that he so tremendously punisht the refusal to deliver the message, was able, and certainly would execute the sentence which he commanded should be delivered.

Now they ask a reason for that of which no reason can be given; It was most unreasonable that Ionah had done, and we find no answer to this interrogatory, though the foregoing questions were answered; others think 'tis a reproof of him for so doing, I rather think it mixt of both; 'twas a real reproof to him-self while he more particularly explains the great sinfulness of this prank of his; and 'tis an enquiry made for satisfaction to them, who no doubt thought of Ionah's God as they did of their own, that 'twas no hard matter to be done, nor any great sin, if done, to run from their presence. These likely were their thoughts of the thing when he first told them; but the dreadful storm that Ionah's God sent after this fugitive Servant of his, makes them more curious to know what great sin it was, and so Ionah explaining the whole, confesseth his sin, humbleth himself, and takes the reproof to himself, and informeth them aright.

The Master of the Ship, and the Marriners.

In these words 'tis probable he told them, now though they knew this was the thing yet they apprehended not what was in it, but did judge of this by their own Gods, and their presence,

when they enquired the cause of his Travels, as 'tis very like they would do, e're they took his fare.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 span].

11 ¶ 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 .

When they heard all that Ionah had declared to them, and well weigh'd it all, and saw it lookt, all of one piece, most credible.

A Prophet fittest in that respect to tell them what should be done, and a Party so highly concerned in it.

If thy God will by thee declare his Will, and we do it, we shall not provoke him, and if thou submit to his Will, and direct us, we shall not injure thee.

Cease its rage; and return to its former calmness for us to make our Voyage.

Though Ionah had recounted all, and given Glory to God, taken shame to himself, and satisfied the Sea-men, yet the Sea grew higher and higher, more tempestuous in it self, and more dangerous to them, and they were sensible that somewhat must be done with Ionah to quiet all. Their fear was lest they should mistake herein, and therefore they ask his Counsel.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 span]; Or, [illegible: 1 span]; Heb. [illegible: 1 span]

12 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 .

He readily gives them advice for their safety.

This he spake as a Prophet directed of God, and not as some Iewish Rabbi thinks choosing to die rather than to go to Nineveh.

Throw me overboard into the Sea, no other way must you deal with me than this, and this way I not only direct as expedient, but from God I give you it as a Command, and you must do it, thus my God-will punish my disobedience and contempt.

As a Prophet I assure you the Tempest shall cease, and you be safe, and by that you may know I being in the ship, endanger'd you all.

I am assured of this, and though I have been your danger, and this was my fault, yet it shall not be my fault if you be drowned.

For my sin which God will punish, but not by my own act, I must not leap over board, 'tis a crime God will punish by that Justice which is in this place,

and will be till you have executed God's sentence on me, which I willingly submit to.

13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to land, but they could not; for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them .

And, Heb. but rightly to the proper sense of the phrase rendred here nevertheless, not withstanding the lot fell on Ionah, he confessed his fault, directs them to cast him over board, and in all this avoweth himself to be a Prophet of God, and assures them of a calm Sea if they do this, yet very willing to save him.

They contrived all wayes, and are willing to be at any labour to save him; they ply their oars, and strain their strength with deep stroaks to force the Ship to shoar.

All was lost labour, God had given other order to his Servants, the Wind and Sea, both obey him, and both keep Ionah a Prisoner, self condemned, and desirous of what the Marriners were very unwilling to.

Vid, ver. 11. let. i. the Sea tost it self more violently, and by unsteddy motions like some Hurricane every moment endangered them.

Marginal references: Heb. digged.

14 Wherefore they cryed unto the LORD , and said, We beseech thee , O LORD, we beseech thee , let us not perish for this mans life , and lay not upon us innocent blood : for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee .

Since all their labour and skill to carry the ship to shore▪ was successless, and they saw no remedy, but they must either follow Ionah's advice against himself, or drown with him.

With importunity of mind, and with loud voices too in prayer.

Not now as in beginning of the Tempest every man to his God, but better instructed now they all do cry to Ionah's God, to Iehovah the true God.

They all join in Prayer,

sue to Mercy for Mercy, they plead not innocency, or merit, but pray for mercy, and that free.

All sue to God, not to Saints, or intermediate Daemons.

'Tis repeated to note their vehemency in prayer,

Though he is pointed out by lot, hath advised us hereunto, yet if possible let the tempest cease, and we all be safe, let not him perish, nor we for him, so their first Prayer is for safety to Ionah and all in the Ship.

This the next suit that if God by the continued Tempest do peremptorily and irreversibly require Ionah's Life, a person innocent among them, and had, since he came to them so demean'd himself, so that should they throw him overboard, before they had tryed all kind of means for preserving him, they might be justly accounted barbarous Murtherers, and God would certainly charge innocent blood upon them; This they deprecate with all earnestness and importunity.

Sending the Tempest, arresting the Prophet by it, detecting him by lot, sentencing him by his own mouth, and confirming the condemning sentence by the continuance of the storm, and so leaving us to perish with this offender against thee, or to be thy Executioners, this is thine own doing, and 'tis just because thou doest it:

Though it be secret to us, and strange in our opinion, yet 'tis very just and necessary we know, or it would not please thee it should be so.

15 So they took up Jonah , and cast him forth into the sea , and the sea ceased from her raging .

And, Heb.

As he advised with regret to themselves, though with full consent of Jonah, at last they yield.

Vid. ver. 11. let. m.

As Jonah had assured them, so they find the Sea all on a sudden calm and friendly, which we must understand includes the wind sent into the Sea, though it be not mentioned here.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 letter]eb. stood.

16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly , and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows .

When they saw God approved the thing, and confirmed Jonah's word, as of a true Prophet, and had spared them.

The Sea-men, and all others, if any others were in the ship

With a deep reverence of his Power, Wisdom, and Justice against Jonah, and of his Mercy towards them. What was the final effect of this, and whether they were by it throughly turned to God, I enquire not now, it may best become our charity that as Jonah's casting overboard was Type of Christ's Death, so the effect it had upon the Mariners might be a Type of the conversion of the Heathen from Idols to God.

Their fear before was exceeding great, but that was a fear of the danger, and for themselves a natural fear; but now they do fear the Lord and his Majesty and Mercy, it is a Religious fear.

What they had in the ship to offer to God, or how they could offer there, appears not to us, but the Scripture affirms they did sacrifice, not to Idols, but to the true God: Some suppose the words are to be interpreted that they would sacrifice at Jerusalem, where they now know that the God of Jonah was worshipped.

Vows are a part of Natural Religion, and here these persons bind themselves by vows to recognise God's goodness in their deliverance. It is not improbable that here is a Trajection as many times in Scripture, that placed last which in construction is to be first. They vowed Vows and Sacrificed, i. e. vowed they would do it, would be Proselytes, and ever Worship him, Jonah preacht to them, Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 letter]eb. sacrifi [illegible: 3 letters]; [illegible: 1 letter]eb. vowed.

17 ¶ Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah: And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three dayes, and three nights .

And, Heb.

Created at first say some, but what need that when a mighty overgrown fish of a double age may do this by God's will and appointment attended the ship, and follow'd it in the storm, expecting a prey, and ready to receive the Prisoner.

A Whale as we read, Math. 12.40. others say 'twas a shark, a fish common in those seas.

Not to chew upon him, but to take him down whole,

in safe custody,

that he might rightly typify Christ's Burial in the Grave.

Marginal references: Math. 16 4. Luk. 11.3[illegible: 1 letter].; Heb. bowels.