Jonah Flees from the Presence of the Lord
God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh, but the prophet attempts to escape by sailing toward Tarshish. This decision begins a dramatic chain of events that reveals God’s authority over both the sea and the heart of man.
📖 Bible Verse – Jonah 1:3 (KJV)
“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.”
This decision marks the beginning of Jonah’s attempt to escape God’s calling.
🔍 Original Hebrew – Jonah 1:3
The phrase “to flee” (בָּרַח barach) expresses deliberate flight from authority. “Tarshish” was known as a distant maritime destination. The wording “from the presence of the LORD” (מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה milifnei YHWH) shows Jonah attempting to avoid the mission God had given him.
📜 Role in the Book of Jonah
This moment begins the central conflict of the book. Jonah chooses disobedience instead of obedience, setting in motion the storm, the great fish, and the lesson God will teach about mercy and repentance. The journey toward Tarshish becomes the first step toward Nineveh after God intervenes.
✨ Interesting Facts About This Scene
Tarshish was likely one of the farthest destinations known to Israel at the time.
Joppa was a major Mediterranean port used for long sea voyages.
The text repeats “went down” several times, symbolizing Jonah’s spiritual descent.
Jonah attempted to escape the mission God gave him to preach repentance.
The sailors would soon witness God’s power through the storm.
This moment begins the chain of events leading Jonah to the great fish.
Historical Record in the Book of Jonah
The events in the Book of Jonah are set during the reign of Jeroboam II (c. 793–753 BC), when the prophet Jonah son of Amittai lived in Gath-hepher. The city of Nineveh, where Jonah was sent, was one of the largest cities of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Archaeological excavations beginning in 1846 uncovered massive walls, palace ruins, and thousands of clay tablets confirming Nineveh’s size and power during the 8th century BC. Discoveries near the Tigris River also revealed Assyrian records describing royal proclamations of fasting and mourning during national crises—practices similar to the repentance described in Jonah 3. These findings provide historical and cultural context supporting the biblical account.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714)
“Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”
— Matthew Henry Commentary on Jonah 1:3
Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892)
“God will have His servants go where He sends them.”
— C.H. Spurgeon, Sermons on Obedience
John Wesley (1703–1791)
“Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord.”
— John Wesley Notes on the Old Testament, Jonah 1:3
Andrew Murray (1828–1917)
“God’s call demands obedience from the heart.”
— Andrew Murray, Absolute Surrender
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)
“The Lord is sovereign in His dealings with men.”
— Horatius Bonar, God’s Way of Peace
God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh, but the prophet boards a ship to Tarshish instead. His attempt to escape God’s command soon leads to the storm at sea and reveals the Lord’s authority over both nature and human decisions.
1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
3 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.
4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714)
“Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”
— Matthew Henry Commentary on Jonah 1:3
Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892)
“God will have His servants go where He sends them.”
— C.H. Spurgeon, Sermons on Obedience
John Wesley (1703–1791)
“Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord.”
— John Wesley Notes on the Old Testament, Jonah 1:3
Andrew Murray (1828–1917)
“God’s call demands obedience from the heart.”
— Andrew Murray, Absolute Surrender
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)
“The Lord is sovereign in His dealings with men.”
— Horatius Bonar, God’s Way of Peace
God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh, but the prophet boards a ship to Tarshish instead. His attempt to escape God’s command soon leads to the storm at sea and reveals the Lord’s authority over both nature and human decisions.
1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
3 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:
Matthew Henry (1662–1714)
“Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”
— Matthew Henry Commentary on Jonah 1:3
Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892)
“God will have His servants go where He sends them.”
— C.H. Spurgeon, Sermons on Obedience
John Wesley (1703–1791)
“Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord.”
— John Wesley Notes on the Old Testament, Jonah 1:3
Andrew Murray (1828–1917)
“God’s call demands obedience from the heart.”
— Andrew Murray, Absolute Surrender
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)
“The Lord is sovereign in His dealings with men.”
— Horatius Bonar, God’s Way of Peace
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.
Text
But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
Text
5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
Text
And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Text
8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
Text
17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Text
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910): Baptist preacher and expositor from Scotland
"The Bible, which ranges over so long a period, contains within its pages the records of the past and the prophecy of the future."
Text
the word of the LORD came unto Jonah
1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910): Baptist preacher and expositor from Scotland
"The Bible, which ranges over so long a period, contains within its pages the records of the past and the prophecy of the future."
is he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. Verse
Text
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
Text
Storm at Sea & Jonah Thrown Overboard
Text
Storm at Sea & Jonah Thrown Overboard
Text
1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?
5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
10 Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand
Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910): Baptist preacher and expositor from Scotland
"The Bible, which ranges over so long a period, contains within its pages the records of the past and the prophecy of the future."
5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
Text
Text
📖 Book of Jonah 4:11 (KJV)
“And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand…”
The verse is saying that Nineveh had more than 120,000 people who “cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand.”
Many Bible scholars believe this phrase refers to young children or people lacking moral understanding, emphasizing why God showed mercy to the city.
✅ Sixscore thousand = 120,000
If you'd like, I can also show you how big Nineveh likely was based on this number and what it implies about the population—it’s actually very interesting historically.
Text