Bible Commentary

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. 9. even unto death ] “ Art thou rightly angry for the palmchrist? I am rightly angry, (and that) unto death: ” i. e. “my anger is so great … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 4:9”

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. 8. a vehement east wind ] Margin, silent. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 4:8”

But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. 7. a worm ] This of course may mean a single worm which either by attacking the root or gnawing the stem, still young and tender and not yet hardened by maturity, suddenly destroyed the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 4:7”

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. 6. prepared ] Rather, appointed. And so in Jon 4:7-8. See Jon 1:17, note. a gourd ] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 4:6”

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. 5. So Jonah went out of the city ] It has been proposed to take the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 4:5”

Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? 4. Doest thou well to be angry?] Two other translations of these words have been suggested. One, which though perhaps possible is far-fetched and highly improbable, is, “Does (my) doing good (that is, to Nineveh in sparing it) make thee angry?” the reproof then being … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 4:4”

Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for [it is] better for me to die than to live. 3. take my life from me ] So had Moses prayed (Num 11:15) and Elijah (1Ki 19:4), both with better cause, and in nobler spirit, but both in the same utter weariness … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 4:3”

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. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 4:2”

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 1. it displeased Jonah, &c. ] Lit. It was evil to Jonah, a great evil, and it (viz. anger) kindled to him. Comp. Neh 2:10. It is clear that the immediate cause of Jonah’s anger and vexation was the preservation of Nineveh and the non-fulfilment … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 4:1”

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. 10. that they turned from their evil way ] “See what removed that inevitable wrath. Did fasting and sackcloth alone? No, but … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 3:10”