Jonah’s flight (chaper one)

EXEGESIS VERSE 3:

dr ynEßp.Limi hv'yviêr>T; x:roåb.li ‘hn"Ay ~q'Y"Üw: ^WTT Jonah 1:3

aAbÜl' ‘HB' dr,YEÜw: Hr"øk'f. !Te’YIw: vyviªr>t; ha'äB' ŸhY"ånIa' ac'îm.YIw: Apøy"

`hw")hy> ynEßp.Limi hv'yviêr>T; ‘~h,M'[i
^NAS Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. w + ~wq (waw - consec. as advers.; + qum - v/Qal/IPF/3/s/m; "But he rose up") hn"Ay (Yonah - n/proper) l + xrb (lamed - prep. + barach - v/Qal/inf/constr.; "to flee/to run away to") vyvir>T; (Tareshiysh - n/proper; "Tarshish") !mi + l + hn
(min - prep. + lamed - prep. + paneh - n/comm/pl/constr.; "from before the presence of") hwhy (Yahweh - n/proper; "the Lord) So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, w + dry (waw - consec. + yarad - v/Qal/IPF/3/m/s; "So he went down/descended to") Apy" (Yapho - n/proper; "Joppa"; means "beautiful"; a port town on SW coast of Israel) w + acm (waw - consec. + ma-a- -v/Qal/IPF/3/m/s; "and he found/secured/acquired") hY"nIa\ (-anayah - n/comm/f/s/absol.; "a ship/sea going vessel") awb (bo- -v/Qal/Ptc/f/s/absol; "which was going to") vyvir>T; (Tareshiysh - n/proper) w + !tn (waw - consec. + natan - v/Qal/IPF/3/m/s; "and he gave/paid") rk'f' (sacar - n/comm/m/s/constr. w/ 3/f/s/suff.; "its fare/fee/voyage money") and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. w + dry (waw - consec. + yarad - v/Qal/IPF/3/m/s; "and he went down/descended") B (bet - prep. w/3/f/s/suff.; "into it") l + awb (lamed - prep. + bo- - v/Qal/Inf/constr.; "to go") ~[i (-im - prep. w/3/m/pl/suff.; "with them") vyvir>T; (Tareshish - n/proper) !mi + l + hn
(min - prep. + lamed - prep. + paneh -n/comm/pl/constr.; "from before the presence of") hwhy (Yahwey - n/proper)

ANALYSIS VERSE 3:

1. 
   In stark contrast to what one would expect from a +V prophet of God, Jonah completely rebels against God’s directive.
   

2. 
   Our author provides no details as to his thinking and why his decision to revolt.
   
3. 
   He simply jumps to the result of his decision, “But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord”.
   
4. 
   Rather than to prepare himself to apply God’s will, he rose up with plans of his own.
   
5. 
   These plans were to take him away from Nineveh as far as possible.
   
6. 
   The Qal infinitive “to flee” indicates that once his mind was made up, he considered haste as a priority.
   
7. 
   While Tarshish gives his predetermined destination, what Jonah was running from is found in the phrase “from the presence of the Lord”.
   
8. 
   The same phrase is mentioned twice in our verse to emphasize this fact.
   
9. 
   It is unreasonable to think Jonah thought he could escape God’s omnipresence.
   
10. 
    This is seen in the fact that Jonah knew God had compassion and thus presence upon nations outside Israel in 4:2.
    
11. 
    Literally the Hebrew is translated “from before the faces of Yahweh”.
    
12. 
    Again, the plural of the noun “faces” emphasizes the harmony of the Godhead in the execution of the POG.
    
13. 
    This Hebraism is language of accommodation to illustrate God’s countenance and thus His attitude towards Jonah. Cp.Gen.4:14
    
14. 
    This term strongly suggests that Jonah knew his decision was disobedient and rebellious.
    
15. 
    His action was a cognizant determination to reject God’s will.
    
16. 
    Further, the entire phrase indicates a complete departure from submitting to the POG in rebellion to it. Cp.Gen.3:8; 4:16
    
17. 
    Many commentaries equate his decision to run based on fear of the Assyrians.
    
18. 
    Yet, his readied willingness to be cast overboard to save the crew (1:12) indicates a demeanor ready to accept death.
    
19. 
    It is certain of Jonah’s actions and words that give us insight as to the attitude behind his rebellion to God.
    
    1. 
       Jonah’s complete departure from his current geographical will in Israel. 1:2
       
    2. 
       His willingness to sacrifice his life for the crew (1:12-15) and continuing flippant attitude regarding his own life (4:3).
       
    3. 
       His own admittance that he surmised the Assyrians would repent and intentions to recuse himself from participation. 4:2
       
20. 
    The fact that Jonah was not willing to even sustain his prophetic role to Israel declares intentions to completely forsake his ministry (abandon his office).
    
21. 
    His actions and attitude regarding his own life speaks clearly of someone that doesn’t care anymore.
    
22. 
    His open admittance that he did not want to see God’s grace extended to the Assyrians reveals his complete abhorrence for them.
    
23. 
    The fact is God’s directive will for Jonah was repugnant in his thinking.
    
24. 
    While maybe foreign to us, his hatred for the Assyrians was self-consuming to say the least.
    
25. 
    The whole situation was revolting in his mind.
    
26. 
    For him to be called upon to evangelize those he disdained for their cruelty and brutality was extremely distasteful.
    
27. 
    Plus the fact that Jonah might have been privy to Hosea’s prophecies that Assyria would be the whipping post God ultimately uses against Israel. Cp.Hos.9:3; 10:5-6; 11:5
    
28. 
    Jonah’s attitude was there was no way he would apply BD that went against his own brand of justice.
    
29. 
    Principle: God’s justice is based on the principle of grace and +V to BD, not man’s standards.
    
30. 
    His attitude was there was no room for grace extended to a people that he considered more evil (vile and cruel) than the Jews even in their reversionism, and a nation destined to ultimately annihilate Israel to boot.
    
31. 
    He was prejudiced and biased towards the Assyrians.
    
32. 
    Principle: Some applications of BD may seem distasteful to our human nature prompting irrational reasoning that grace shouldn’t apply. Cf.Mat.18:21-22
    
33. 
    Jonah completely capitulates to his STA with human viewpoint reasoning in spite of what doctrine otherwise instructs.
    
34. 
    By all appearances he was angry at God for even suggesting that the Ninevites deserved God’s grace.
    
35. 
    Even though it would mean that ultimately the Assyrians would go on +V.
    
36. 
    He was being inconsistent and illogical running under his emotions.
    
37. 
    Imagine someone doing major harm towards you and you are asked to do major good in response.
    
38. 
    Jonah’s determination was that he would just quit the ministry if this is what God expected.
    
39. 
    The fact he was leaving the land altogether represents his resignation.
    
40. 
    He doesn’t really care what consequences he may face as his attitude towards his own life insinuates.
    
41. 
    He is willing to sacrifice his Ph₃ prize just to avoid having to apply grace in this area of his life.
    
42. 
    The STA makes you the fool.
    
43. 
    Warning: Not keeping emotions in check leads to irrationality.
    
44. 
    Warning: The STA can convince you that making BD your #1 priority in life just isn’t worth it.
    
45. 
    Jonah’s choice of destination “Tarshish” is repeated 3x in our verse and re-mentioned again in 4:11.
    
46. 
    Its repetition suggests his ultimate plans after rebelling against God’s operational and geographical will.
    
47. 
    The town Tarshish derives its name from a precious stone of uncertain identity. Eze.10:9
    
48. 
    It was considered a sea port based on the often mentioned ships of Tarshish in the OT. 1Kgs.10:22; 22:48; 2Chr.9:21; Psa.48:7; Isa.2:16; 23:1,14; 60:9; Eze.27:25
    
49. 
    It has been suggested that Tartessus of present Spain (some 2500 miles W. of Israel near Gibraltar) was its location or as far away South as on the Red Sea or in Africa.
    
50. 
    That it was located in the E. Mediterranean is the most favorable as part of the Phoenician connection.
    
51. 
    As a city-state, it was considered a nation. Isa.66:19
    
52. 
    It was known for its sea-faring merchants and large sea going vessels, minerals and extreme wealth of precious metals such as silver and gold. 1Kgs.10:22; 2Chr.9:21; Isa.60:9; Jer.10:9; Eze.27:12
    
53. 
    It appears Jonah had determined to cash in his ministry to pursue wealth and the good life that the Phoenician culture could offer.
    
54. 
    His flight to Tarshish was as if he was saying that the life of doctrine (his ministry) didn’t pay enough for this kind of pressure and grief.
    
55. 
    Instead he would opt to pursue what the world had to offer letting the chips fall where they may.
    
56. 
    In whatever case, it is obvious Jonah was calling it quits.
    
57. 
    Possibly he could be thinking that God could find someone else to carry on in his place.
    
58. 
    The problem with that thinking is that God hand-picked Jonah for his +V and God doesn’t make mistakes. Ex. Saul to be Paul
    
59. 
    Jonah then fills in his itinerary to make the trip happen, “So he went down to Joppa, and found a ship which was going to Tarshish, and paid the fare”.
    
60. 
    The phrase “he went down” does not indicate geographical direction (South) as it is used today.
    
61. 
    The Jews used it with regard to elevation descending from a higher point to a lower.
    
62. 
    When leaving Jerusalem located on Mt. Zion to another location, the Jews always referred to “going down” no matter which direction they headed.
    
63. 
    From Jonah’s current location, he descended to sea level to the port of Joppa.
    
64. 
    This name means fair or beautiful which describes this sea port on the Mediterranean in Israel today as Joffa in Tel Aviv.
    
65. 
    Once there he locates a ship providing passage to Tarshish and paid their going rate.
    
66. 
    These details smack of an author writing his own account.
    
67. 
    Once he boards the ship he kicks back for the trip, “and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord”.
    
68. 
    This is the second time we see the Qal verb “went down/yarad” in vs.3.
    
69. 
    Before this trip was over Jonah would be going down where he could not imagine!
    
70. 
    All the way to the floor of the Med.
    
71. 
    While it indicates a physical descent, it further illustrates his spiritual tailspin.
    
72. 
    At this point, Jonah is out of the viewpoint, operational and geographical wills of God.
    
73. 
    The irony is that he depends upon these pagan sailors to get him physically away “from the presence of” his God.
    
74. 
    Principle: Leave the POG and your dependency will be with reversionists.
    
75. 
    Jonah’s problem is that no one can escape the presence of the Lord. Psa.139:7-10
    
76. 
    This second reference to God’s presence looks to the relief Jonah now feels.
    
77. 
    A man that can sleep soundly during a raging storm (vs.6) is not a man troubled in thought.
    
78. 
    Often forsaking BD gives momentary relief as one avoids the responsibilities and pressures associated with the A/C.
    
79. 
    Yet, the hardening of his senses to the POG will be short lived because he is +V.
    

JONAH’S DD VSS.4-17

THE DIVINE STORM VS.4