John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jonah 1:1
Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai ,.... Or, "and the word of the Lord was" F12 ויהי "et fuit", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "factum fuit", Piscator. ; not that this is to be considered as connected with something the prophet had on his mind and in his thoughts when he began to write this book; or as a part detached from a prophecy not now extant; for it is no unusual thing with the Hebrews to begin books after this manner, especially historical ones, of... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jonah 1:1-3
Observe, 1. The honour God put upon Jonah, in giving him a commission to go and prophesy against Nineveh. Jonah signifies a dove, a proper name for all God's prophets, all his people, who ought to be harmless as doves, and to mourn as doves for the sins and calamities of the land. His father's name was Amittai?My truth; for God's prophets should be sons of truth. To him the word of the Lord came?to him it was (so the word signifies), for God's word is a real thing; men's words are but wind,... read more