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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jonah 1:4-10

When Jonah was set on ship-board, and under sail for Tarshish, he thought himself safe enough; but here we find him pursued and overtaken, discovered and convicted as a deserter from God, as one that had run his colours. I. God sends a pursuer after him, a mighty tempest in the sea, Jonah 1:4. God has the winds in his treasure (Ps. 135:7), and out of these treasures God sent forth, he cast forth (so the word is), with force and violence, a great wind into the sea; even stormy winds fulfil his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jonah 1:6

So the shipmaster came to him ,.... The master of the vessel, who had the command of it; or the governor of it, as Jarchi; though Josephus F4 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 9. c. 10. sect. 2.) distinguishes between the governor and the shipmaster: "the master of the ropers" F5 רב החבל "magister funalis", Munster; "magister funiculaiorum", so some in;Mercer; "magister funis", Calvin. , as it may be rendered; of the sailors, whose business it was to draw the ropes, to loose or gather... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jonah 1:6

The shipmaster - Either the captain or the pilot. Arise, call upon thy God - He supposed that Jonah had his god, as well as they had theirs; and that, as the danger was imminent, every man should use the influence he had, as they were all equally involved in it. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jonah 1:6

Verse 6 Jonah relates here how he was reproved by the pilot or master of the ship (18), inasmuch as he alone slept, while all the rest were in anxiety and fear. “What meanest thou, fast sleeper?” The pilot no doubt upbraids Jonah for his sleepiness, and reproves him for being almost void of all thought and reflection. What meanest thou, fast sleeper (19) , he says; when thou sees all the rest smitten with alarm, how canst thou sleep? Is not this unnatural? Rise, then, and call on thy God We... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 1:1-17

Part I. THE MISSION OF JONAH . HIS DISOBEDIENCE AND PUNISHMENT . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 1:4-6

The fugitive arrested. "But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken," etc. "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!" God is never at a loss for means of conquering opposition and bringing erring men to their senses—he arrests Balaam by means of a sword, David through a parable, Peter by a look, the Philippian jailor by an earthquake, Jonah by a storm. All nature is at his command. "The whole world... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 1:4-6

Jonah reproved. I. A TEMPESTUOUS PROVIDENCE REPROVED HIM . Jonah, aroused, creeps on deck. What a scene met him! The sea in horrible tumult. The fury of the wind. The ship "… up and down From the base of the wave to the billow's crown!" The bronzed sailors wondering what would be the end! The storm is reproving him. No miraculous wind, perhaps. Still, God's servant with strong reproof: "Guilty Jonah, awake! arise! return! To thy God; to thy work! Duty may be left; it can... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 1:4-6

The Divine interposition. When man forsakes God, he who is infinite in mercy does not forsake man. No sooner had Adam fallen than Divine love planned a scheme of redemption. Through all the ages the voice of God has been summoning men to repentance; and in the fulness of time his only begotten Son came to seek and to save that which was lost. He deals as lovingly with individuals as with the race. Jonah was an example of this. Had a favourable voyage taken him to his destination, or had a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 1:4-10

2. Jonah ' s foolish flight is arrested. In the midst of his fancied security God sends a great storm, and the ship is placed in imminent jeopardy. The crew try all means to save the ship, and at length cast lots to discover by this means for whose sake the tempest has been sent. The lot points out Jonah as the guilty person. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 1:4-10

An effective hue and cry. We see here a man who ought to run for God endeavouring to run away from him, and also how he speeds. The flight was illogical, a fatuous attempt to get outside the sphere of omnipresence, as much of our sin is a practical endeavour to get, or imagine ourselves, beyond the cognizance of omniscience. And it was made in the blindness of egoism and carnal self will—the qualities which are generally to be found at the bottom of ministerial unfaithfulness to the... read more

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