Matthew Poole and continuators on Jonah 1:3

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.