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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 1:7

Finding the storm still violent, the crew come to the conclusion that it is sent by Heaven in punishment of some crime committed by one on board; and they proceed to cast lots to discover the guilty person. Jonah doubtless had meantime complied with the captain's request, but, as the sailors saw, without visible effect. The belief that temporal calamities are often connected with the presence of culprits, and are sent in judgment, is found in classical authors. Thus Plautus, 'Rudena,' 2:21— ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 1:7-10

The fugitive convicted. "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," etc. The prayers of the mariners, and Jonah's prayer, if indeed he tried to pray (although that is hardly likely; see Jonah 4:2 , "Then Jonah prayed"), led to no abatement of the storm. God's purpose was not to be accomplished in that way—Jonah was not to be restored in so easy a manner. But... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 1:7-10

Jonah detected. I. JONAH DETECTED BY THE LOT . Heathens cast that lot; still the disposal of it was of the Lord. He guided the fateful token, and so it fell to Jonah. Now that the Divine Spirit is given to those that seek him, we are released from dependence upon the indications of the lot. But still by things as little seeming as lot casting, backsliders are discovered to themselves if not to others. A cock crow detected the recreant Peter. And now by some memorial of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 1:8

The mariners having, as they supposed, discovered the culprit, proceed calmly to investigate his guilt; amid the roaring of the tempest and the peril that surrounded them, they give him every opportunity of clearing himself or confessing his crime. For whose cause . Some manuscripts of the Hebrew and the Greek omit this clause as unnecessary; but, as Keil remarks, it is not superfluous, the sailors thereby wishing to induce Jonah to confess his guilt with his own mouth. In their excitement... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jonah 1:7

Come, and let us cast lots - Jonah too had probably prayed, and his prayers too were not heard. Probably, too, the storm had some unusual character about it, the suddenness with which it burst upon them, its violence, the quarter from where it came, its whirlwind force . “They knew the nature of the sea, and, as experienced sailors, were acquainted with the character of wind and storm, and had these waves been such as they had known before, they would never have sought by lot for the author of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jonah 1:8

Tell us, for whose cause - Literally “for what to whom.” It may be that they thought that Jonah had been guilty toward some other. The lot had pointed him out. The mariners, still fearing to do wrong, ask him thronged questions, to know why the anger of God followed him; “what” hast thou done “to whom?” “what thine occupation?” i. e., either his ordinary occupation, whether it was displeasing to God? or this particular business in which he was engaged, and for which he had come on board.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jonah 1:7-8

Jonah 1:7-8. Come, and let us cast lots “The sailors betake themselves to this practice, because they see that there is something supernatural in the tempest: whence they conclude that it arose on account of some wicked person who sailed with them. Thus the sailors who carried Diagoras in their vessel, concluded that the tempest which assailed them was principally on account of this philosopher, who openly professed atheism. God was pleased so to order the lots, that Jonah was found to be... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jonah 1:1-17

1:1-17 JONAH’S DISOBEDIENCE AND ITS RESULTSWhen God commanded Jonah to go and warn the sinful people of Nineveh of coming judgment, Jonah not only refused but fled in the opposite direction. He boarded a ship and headed for the distant Mediterranean port of Tarshish, somewhere in the region of Spain (1:1-3). But God determined to bring Jonah back. His first action was to send a fierce storm that threatened to sink the ship. The seamen, who were not Hebrews, prayed to their gods to save them,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jonah 1:7

evil = calamity: as in Amos 3:6 . Hebrew. raa `. App-44 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jonah 1:8

for whose cause, &c. = for what cause. The lot had told them the person, but not the "cause". So they appeal to Jonah. read more

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