Jonah 1:14 - Exposition

They cried unto the Lord. They prayed no longer to their gods, as before ( Jonah 1:5 ), but unto Jehovah, the God of Jonah. Let us not perish for this man's life. Let us not incur death for taking this man's life. They seem to know something of the Noachic law that punished murder ( Genesis 9:5 , Genesis 9:6 ). Lay not upon us innocent blood. Charge us not with the guilt of shedding innocent blood ( Deuteronomy 21:8 ). For thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee ( 1 Samuel 3:18 ). The whole affair has happened according to thy will. The tempest, the lot, the sentence, are all the working of thy providence. The prophet throughout brings into prominence the contrast between the behaviour of these heathen and his own, and would teach his nation a lesson thereby.