Jonah 1:6

6. The very fact that Jonah remained sound asleep and did not join the others in their frantic efforts to relieve the situation would direct attention to him and arouse suspicion.

Shipmaster Literally, the chief of the handlers of the ropes (Ezekiel 27:8; Ezekiel 27:27-29); the captain.

What meanest thou, O sleeper? How can any man sleep, with doom so imminent?

Call upon thy God The gods implored by the others had failed to still the tempest; perhaps the God of Jonah can bring relief.

If so be Perhaps.

God Literally, the God. “It is not clear that the speaker identified Jonah’s God with the God… Perhaps all that the shipmaster meant was, that, if they all called, each man upon his god, the fruit of their piety might perhaps be that God, whatever god was the God, would spare their lives.” Only later events led the men to identify Jonah’s God, Jehovah, with the God.

Will think upon us Literally, will bethink himself for us that is, for our benefit. An anthropomorphism (see on repent, Joel 2:13). The above is a possible translation of the verb, but Cheyne proposes to substitute a slightly different verb, used, in the same sense, in Psalms 40:17. Some translate the present verb “will brighten,” or “shine upon us” that is, will show himself favorable to us. The thought remains the same.

Whether Jonah arose and followed the advice of the captain is not stated; probably he did, but in vain, for the storm continued. 7. There could no longer be any doubt that a desperate sinner was on board, on whose account the calamity had fallen (see concluding remarks on Amos 4:6-11; compare Joshua 7:1 ff.; 1 Samuel 14:36-46). If he could be discovered and removed from their midst the divine wrath might cease; hence they proceed to discover the guilty.

Cast lots Only a deity could reveal the culprit; therefore appeal was made to the deity by the casting of the lots, which was an ancient method of determining the will of a god (Ezekiel 21:21). It is used even in the New Testament (Acts 1:26), but not again after Pentecost.

For whose cause On whose account.

The lot fell upon Jonah Jerome’s comment on these words is worthy of quotation: “The fugitive is taken by lot, not from any virtue in lots themselves, least of all the lots of the heathen, but by the will of Him who governs uncertain lots” (Joshua 7:18; 1 Samuel 14:42).