Matthew Poole and continuators on Jonah 1:7

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.