Keraia
Jonah 1

Jonah 1:3

Jonah Flees from the LORD · Jonah 1:1–3
Read Jonah 1

Translations

Modern
Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
Traditional
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
Literal
And Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish, away from the face of YHWH. And he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish, and he paid its fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish, away from the face of YHWH.
Latin
Et surrexit Jonas, ut fugeret in Tharsis a facie Domini, et descendit in Joppen: et invenit navem euntem in Tharsis, et dedit naulum ejus, et descendit in eam ut iret cum eis in Tharsis a facie Domini.

Original

Hebrew
English
Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

Notes

Jonah 1:3

  • Jonah tried to run away from the Lord, but he could not succeed. No one can escape God (Psalm 139:7–10) or disobey his will without facing consequences (Deuteronomy 8:5). Jonah's hesitation to go to Nineveh is understandable. Assyria was an enemy of Israel known for its violence (Jonah 3:8; see also Nahum 3:1–4). Jonah did not want these non-Israelites to have the chance to repent and be saved (Jonah 4:2).

  • Joppa was an important port city on the Mediterranean coast (2 Chronicles 2:16; Ezra 3:7); it is now a suburb of modern Tel Aviv.

  • Tarshish might have been the port city of Tartessos in Spain, meaning Jonah tried to flee as far as possible in the opposite direction from Nineveh. Tarsus in Asia Minor is another possibility. Some believe Tarshish refers to the sea or any destination reachable by sea.

Jonah 1:1–2:10

Jonah first refused the Lord's command to warn Nineveh about the judgment it faced due to its wickedness.

Events

Parallels

Nahum 1:1–15

People

Jonah: Prophet swallowed by fish, preached to Nineveh

Places

Joppa: An ancient seaport, the main port for Jerusalem Tarshish: Distant maritime city known for its wealth and trade

Glossary

Book of Jonah Joppa Tarshish (Place)

Topics

Christian Minister: Jonah Commerce: Transportation of Passengers Confidence: Jonah Disobedience to God: Jonah God: Presence of Jonah: Disobedience and Punishment of Joppa: Passenger Traffic From Missionary Work by Ministers: Guilt and Danger of Shrinking From Ship used in Commerce for Passenger Traffic Ship used in Commerce with Tarshish Ships: Employed in Carrying Passengers Tarshish: Also Called Tharshish: Jonah Would Flee To