Matthew Poole and continuators on Jonah 1:16

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.