Westminster Annotations, Jonah 1
ANNOTATIONS ON THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JONAH.
CHAP. I.
Vers. 1. IOnah the sonne of Amittai] Called, Matth. 12. 39. Jonas. After that he had preached a long time in Israel, among the tenne Tribes about the times of Jeroboam the sonne of Joas, 2 King. 14. 25.
V. 2. Nine…eh] For seeing the great obstinacie of the Israelites, God sent his Prophet to the Gentiles, that they might provoke Israel to repentance; or at least make them inexcusable: for Nineveh was the chiefe citie of the Assyrians.
great citie] Chap. 3. 3. For as Authours write, it contained in circuite about eight and forty miles; and had a thousand and five hundred towers; and at this time there were an hundred and twenty thousand children therein, Chap. 4. 11. See Gen. 10. 11, 12. Jon. 3. 3.
for their wickednesse] Gen. 18. 20, 21.
V. 3. Jonah rose up to flee] Whereby he declared his weaknesse, that would not promptly follow the Lords calling; but gave place to his own reason, which perswaded him that he should nothing at all profit there, seeing he had done so small good among his own people, Chap. 4. 2.
Tarshish] The most common opinion is, that he meaneth the citie of Tarsus in Cilicia, the countrey of the Apostle Paul, Act. 21 39. & 22. 3. Others translate it, to flie by sea.
from the presence of the LORD] Namely, from the land of Israel▪ where God made his abode in grace and vertue, and where he appeared to his Prophets. Or it is a phrase taken from slaves, who by stealth runne away from their masters service: to shew that he did runne away from the vocation whereunto God had called him, and wherein he would have assisted him.
Joppa] Which was the haven, and port to take shipping thither; called also Joppe, Act. 9. 36. See Josh. 19. 46. 2 Chron. 2. 16.
V. 4. sent out] Heb. cast forth.
was like to be broken] Heb thought to be broken.
V. 5. into the sides of the ship] As one that would have cast off his car… and sollicitude, by seeking rest and quietnesse.
V. 6. call upon thy God] As they had called on their idols; which declareth that idolaters have no stay nor certainty, but in their troubles seek, they cannot tell to whom.
V. 7. and let us cast lots] Observing this tempest to be extraordinary▪ not without Gods secret providence they conjecture that there was some body in the ship that was guilty of some grievous sinne: wherefore they desire to discover the truth by lots, according to the heathens custome, but God is president over them, Pro. 16. 33.
V. 9. I fear the LORD the God of heaven] My religion is to serve and worship him onelyonly.
V. 10. exceedingly afraid] Heb. with great fear.
Why hast thou done this] What great fault hast thou committed?
V. 11. may be calm unto us] Heb. may be silent from us.
wrought and was tempestuous] Or, grew more and more tempestuous. Heb. went.
V. 12. he said unto them] By inward revelation from God, more then by any discourse of reason.
V. 13. rowed] Heb. digged.
V. 14. we beseech thee] This declareth that the very wicked in their nece…sities flie unto God for succour, and also that they are touched with a certain fear to shed mans bloud, when as they know no manifest signe of wickednesse.
hast done as it pleaseth thee] We do acknowledge in all this expresse signes of thy power, justice, and supreame providence, to which because we will not displease thee, we submit our selves, to performe this execution.
V. 15. ceased] Heb. stoo….
V. 16. feared the LORD exceedingly] They were touched with a certaine repentance of their life past, and began to worship the true God, by whom they saw themselves so wonderfully delivered.
offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows] Heb. sacrificed a sacrifice unto the LORD, and vowed vowes.
V. 17. Jonah was] Mat. 12. 40. & 16. 4. Luk. 11. 30.
belly of the fish] Heb. bowels. Thus the Lord would chastise his Prophet with a most terrible spectacle of death; and hereby confirmed him also of his favour and support in this his charge which was enjoyned him.
CHAP. II.
Vers. 1. OUt of the fishes belly] Being now swallowed up of death, and seeing no remedy to escape, his faith brast out unto the Lord, knowing that out of this very hell he was able to deliver him.
V. 2. And said] This prayer, which containes the Prophets conceits and motions whilest he was in the fish, was set down in writing by him after his deliverance: with the addition of thankesgiving: see on Psal. 142. 1.
I cried] Psal. 120. 1.
by reason of mine affliction] Or, out of mine affliction.
hell cried I] Or, the grave. Heb. sheol. For he was in the fishes belly, as in a grave or place of darknesse.
V. 3. midst of the seas] Heb. heart.
V. 4. I am cast out of thy sight] This declareth what his prayer was, and how he laboured between hope and despaire, considering the neglect of his vocation and Gods judgements for the same: but yet in the end faith gat the victory.
V. 5. even to the soul] Bringing me into danger of present death. See Psal. 69. 1.
the weeds were wrapt about my head] To wit, which the fish had swallowed.
V. 6. bottoms of the mountains] Heb. cuttings off.
barres] A terme taken from prisoners. The meaning is, I am in the Sea as it were in a strong prison; shut up and barred from the earth on all sides.
for ever] Unlesse thou dost miraculously relieve me.
yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption] Or, the pit. Thou hast delivered me from the belly of the fish, and all these dangers, as it were raising me from death to life.
V. 7. holy temple] To wit, into heaven, Gods dwelling place in glory: the representation whereof was in the Temple of Jerusalem.
V. 8. lying vanities] They that depend upon any thing save upon God alone.
own mercy] They refuse their own felicitie, and that goodnesse which they should else receive of God.
V. 9. thanksgiving] Psal. 50. 14, 23. and 116. 17. Hos. 14. 2. Heb. 13. 15.
salvation is of the LORD] Psal. 3. 8.
CHAP. III.
Vers. 1. CAme unto Jonah] This is a great declaration of God mercy, that he receiveth him againe, and sendeth him forth as his Prophet, which had before shewed so great infirmitie.
V. 3. an exceeding great citie] Heb. a great citie of God. For the Hebrews do extoll the greatnesse of things, by adding the name of God to their ordinary names: as Cedars of God, Psal. 80. 10. mountains of God, Psal. 36. 6. the wrestlings of God, Gen. 30. 8.
three dayes journey] In circuit.
V. 4. into the citie a dayes journey] Not going on streight forward, but by pauses, and at times, going on from place to place, as his charge required.
V. 5. beleeved God] Matth. 12. 41. Luk. 11. 32. His word preached by Jonah: for he declared that he was a Prophet sent to them from God to denounce his judgements against them.
V. 6. word came unto the king of Ninev…h] The fast which the people had voluntarily undertaken to keep was also authorised, and enjoyned by the Kings command: who would also be partaker thereof.
and sat in ashes] Job 2. 8.
duplicate page duplicate page V. 7. published] Heb. said.
nobles] Heb. great men.
nor beast] Not that the dumbe beast had sinned or could repent; but that by their example man might be astonished, considering that for his sinne the anger of God hanged over all creatures.
taste any thing] For a certain limited time, which likely was a whole day.
V. 8. man and beast be covered] According to the custome of those dayes, the beasts they used to ride upon, and imployed for carriage, were wont to be covered and trapped: but in time of mourning they took those ornaments off, and covered them with hair-cloth and ragged clothing.
crie mightily unto God] He willeth that the men should earnestly call unto God for mercy.
is in their hands] Whereof he is guilty, as if his hands were soiled therewith.
V. 9. Who can tell] Joel 2. 14.
will turn] Towards us in grace and mercy.
V. 10. their works] That is, the fruits of their repentance, which did proceed from their credence to the words of the Prophet.
God repented of the evil] By recalling his sentence, which was but conditionall, in his decree and mind; whereof he gave no notice by Jonah. See Gen. 6. 6.
CHAP. IIII.
Vers. 1. DIspleased Jonab exceedingly] Not onelyonly for feare of being thought a false Prophet: but also the zeale of Gods glory, which he thought was wronged by this change. And for affection he bore to Gods people: who had then no greater enemie to feare, then the Empire of Assyria: as by effect it appeared not long after.
V. 2. fled before unto Tarshish] Read Chap. 1. 3.
a gracious God and mercifull] Exod. 34. 6. Psal. 86. 5. Joel 2. 13.
V. 4. Doest thou well to be angry] Or, Art thou greatly angry? Wilt thou be Judge when I do things for my glory, and when I do not? Others, O thou hast great cause to be angry: an ironicall reproofe.
V. 5. till he might see] For he doubted as yet whether God would shew them mercy or no: and therefore after fourty dayes he departed out of the citie, looking what issue God would send.
V. 6. prepared] Did miraculously cause this plant to spring and grow up to a great height. Peradventure this happened when the booth began to drie up, and shadow Jonah no more.
a gourd] Or, palmerist. Heb. Kikajon. A plant which is very common in those hot countreys, and groweth up to a great height, and spreadeth out in great breadth, called commonly Palma Christi.
his grief] Namely, from the heat, which increased the grief of his mind. Or to give him by the means of this plant some wholesome document, and remedy for his passion.
was exceeding glad] Heb. rejoyced with great joy.
V. 7. smote the gourd that it withered] Namely, did gnaw the root of it.
V. 8. vehement east-wind] Heb. a silent, or dease winde. That is to say, a still hot wind, which redoubled the heat of the Sunne. Others, a wind that made one deafe, it was so tempestuous.
and wished] 1 King. 19. 4.
V. 9. Doest thou well to be angry] Or, art thou greatly angry?
I do well to be angry] Or, I am greatly angry. Words of a passionate spirit, blinded with anger, rather then with any expresse rebellion. This declareth the great inconveniences whereinto God servants do fall when they give place to their own affections, and do not in all things willingly submit themselves to God.
V. 10. had pitie] Or, spared. That is, thou wouldest have spared and dearly preserved it.
came up in a night] Heb. was the sonne of the night.
V. 11. should not I spare Nineveh] Thus God mercifully reproveth him, which would pitie himselfe, and this gourd, and yet would restrain God to shew his compassion to so many thousand people.
cannot discern between] Little children, that are not yet come to age of understanding.