Jonah 1

Jonah 1:1-17 . JONAH'S COMMISSION TO NINEVEH, FLIGHT, PUNISHMENT, AND PRESERVATION BY MIRACLE.

1. Jonah--meaning in Hebrew, "dove." Compare Genesis 8:8 Genesis 8:9 , where the dove in vain seeks rest after flying from Noah and the ark: so Jonah. GROTIUS not so well explains it, "one sprung from Greece" or Ionia, where there were prophets called Amythaonidæ.
Amittai--Hebrew for "truth," "truth-telling"; appropriate to a prophet.

2. to Nineveh--east of the Tigris, opposite the modern Mosul. The only case of a prophet being sent to the heathen. Jonah, however, is sent to Nineveh, not solely for Nineveh's good, but also to shame Israel, by the fact of a heathen city repenting at the first preaching of a single stranger, Jonah, whereas God's people will not repent, though preached to by their many national prophets, late and early. Nineveh means "the residence of Ninus," that is, Nimrod. Genesis 10:11 , where the translation ought to be, "He (Nimrod) went forth into Assyria and builded Nineveh." Modern research into the cuneiform inscriptions confirms the Scripture account that Babylon was founded earlier than Nineveh, and that both cities were built by descendants of Ham, encroaching on the territory assigned to Shem ( Genesis 10:5 Genesis 10:6 Genesis 10:8 Genesis 10:10 Genesis 10:25 ).
great city--four hundred eighty stadia in circumference, one hundred fifty in length, and ninety in breadth [DIODORUS SICULUS, 2.3]. Taken by Arbaces the Mede, in the reign of Sardanapalus, about the seventh year of Uzziah; and a second time by Nabopolassar of Babylon and Cyaxares the Mede in 625 B.C.
cry--( Isaiah 40:6 , 58:1 ).
come up before me--( Genesis 4:10 , 6:13 , 18:21 , Ezra 9:6 , Revelation 18:5 ); that is, their wickedness is so great as to require My open interposition for punishment.

3. flee--Jonah's motive for flight is hinted at in Jonah 4:2 : fear that after venturing on such a dangerous commission to so powerful a heathen city, his prophetical threats should be set aside by God's "repenting of the evil," just as God had so long spared Israel notwithstanding so many provocations, and so he should seem a false prophet. Besides, he may have felt it beneath him to discharge a commission to a foreign idolatrous nation, whose destruction he desired rather than their repentance. This is the only case of a prophet, charged with a prophetical message, concealing it.
from the presence of the Lord--(Compare Genesis 4:16 ). Jonah thought in fleeing from the land of Israel, where Jehovah was peculiarly present, that he should escape from Jehovah's prophecy-inspiring influence. He probably knew the truth stated in Psalms 139:7-10 , but virtually ignored it (compare Genesis 3:8-10 , Jeremiah 23:24 ).
went down--appropriate in going from land to the sea ( Psalms 107:23 ).
Joppa--now Jaffa, in the region of Dan; a harbor as early as Solomon's time ( 2 Chronicles 2:16 ).
Tarshish--Tartessus in Spain; in the farthest west at the greatest distance from Nineveh in the east.

4. sent out--literally, caused a wind to burst forth. COVERDALE translates, "hurled a greate wynde into the see."