Jonah 1:5 - Exposition

The mariners ( mallachim ). Those who have to do with the salt sea. The word is used by Ezekiel ( Ezekiel 27:9 , Ezekiel 27:27 , Ezekiel 27:29 ). Cried every man unto his god. They were either Phoenicians from different localities, or men of various nations; hence the multiplicity of their gods. The heathen are represented throughout the book as devout and sincere according to their lights. They cast forth the wares; Septuagint, ἐκβολὴν ἐποήσαντο τῶν σκευῶν , "cast out the furniture, or wares," as Acts 27:18 , Acts 27:19 ; Vulgate, miserunt vasa. They threw overboard probably both all spare tackling and movables, and the cargo. The freight may have been corn, which was exported in considerable quantifies from Joppa (comp. Ezekiel 27:17 ), or manufactured articles from Tyre, which were exchanged with Spain for silver and other metals. To lighten it of them; literally, to lighten from against them; i.e. to ease the ship of its burden, or to ease them of their trouble, is Exodus 18:22 . The LXX . takes the former interpretation, τοῦ κουφισθῆναι ἀπ αὐτῶν , "that it might be lightened of them;" Vulgate, ut alleviaretur ab eis. The sides of the ship. The innermost parts ( interiora , Vulgate) of the ship; τὴν κοίλην ; "the hold". Jonah hid himself there before the storm arose. The Hebrew word for "ship" ( sephinah ) is found nowhere else, and, probably from its derivation ( saphan , "to cover"), implies that the vessel was decked. He lay, and was fast asleep; ἐκάθευδε καὶ ἔρεγχε , "was asleep and snoring,"; dormiebat sopore gravi (Vulgate). The word used implies a very deep sleep, as that of Sisera ( 4:21 ) or of the Assyrians ( Psalms 76:6 ). He was fatigued and worn out with mental anxiety, and now being, as he thought, secure, and longing for solitude, he lay down to sleep, unconscious of danger. Contrast this sleep in the storm with that of Christ ( Mark 4:38 ), and that of the apostles who slept for sorrow ( Luke 22:45 ).