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The blessed Jonah also made other prophecies, but these references are not mentioned in this composition. But, we have learned about those references from the fourth book of Kings ( 2 Kgs 14:25).29 For the scriptures teach us such things about Jeroboam30 who, being third in line from Jehu, ruled the ten tribes. He reestablished the border of Israel from the approach of Emath to the sea on the west, according to the word of the God of Israel which he spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet from Gethophrah. And this prophecy also designates his father in the same way.31 The God of the universe ordered this man to come into the city Nineveh and to announce to them the coming destruction because of their excessive transgression. For it says, “The cry of their evil has come up to me” (Jonah 1:2). 32 That is to say, they drifted away33 into such abundant wickedness so as to exceed the boundaries of God’s patience. But the prophet, after he heard these words, prefers flight over obedience, and he dares to run away to Tharsis (Jonah 1:3).34 With regard to Tharsis—some have supposed Tharsis to be Tarsus from the close connection of its name to Tarsus, but others said that Tharsis is India, since they were not willing to pay attention to the fact that the kingdom of India shares a common border with the Assyrians. For it is the habit for individuals fleeing from the East to go to the West, and for individuals running away from the South to head North. In particular, he went down to Joppa, a city on the shore of Palestine, so that he might sail away from there. And Joppa is located on the sea facing West. And someone journeying by sea would not go to India through this sea. For between our sea36 and the Indian Sea is a very large land mass,37 some of which is inhabited, but some of which is completely desolate. And there are numerous large mountains, after which is the Gulf of the Red Sea38 which joins with the Indian Sea.39 And in order that no one might suspect that we are disguising the truth with faulty reasoning, I will offer the Holy Scriptures as a witness that Carthage, the capital city of Africa, is Tharsis. For in Isaiah the prophet, where the Seventy have said, “Wail, o ships of Carthage because your fortress is destroyed” (Is 23:14)40 Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion have placed “Tharsis” instead of “Carthage.” Also, the scriptures of the Hebrews have this name. And in such a way, when the divinely inspired Ezekiel mentions Carthage, we have found “Tharsis” in the Hebrew and the Syrian (Ez 27:12- 25).41 Because we are guided by these things, we say that the blessed Jonah did not flee to India but to Carthage. And he has done this, both perceiving clearly (since he was a prophet) that the Lord of the universe is everywhere and no place is isolated from his providence; and understanding nevertheless that God makes his manifestation only in Jerusalem. Neither hesitation nor fear was the cause of 44 his flight. But since he knew for certain about the streams of mercy which the one who ordered him to preach uses to govern everything, and since he was assured that if the Ninevites repented they would obtain divine mercy completely, he believed it was unseemly for the prediction to be shown false, and that he be called a liar instead of a prophet. And, that proclamation of threatened punishment instilled this suspicion in him. For he thought that God would not have revealed it in advance if he indeed wished to punish, but the threat of punishment is surely an exhortation to repentance. And in addition to this, he supposed that the wellbeing of the Ninevites would be an accusation against the Jews because the Ninevites had put their trust in an unknown and foreign man, but the Jews continually disobeyed and received no benefit from the thousands of prophets from their own people who prophesied with miracles.45 For these reasons, he did not immediately carry out what God commanded, but instead fled by means of the sea, since he thought that he would be released quickly from such a ministry.46 [4] He even paid the fare for the sea voyage, so the expense from it might not hold him back. But the Maker of earth, sea, and heaven roused billowing waves against the boat and cast bands of waves around the boat. While the other boats were navigating successfully,47 the storm of the sea and the dashing surf were boiling up around Jonah’s boat only. The lot casting of the sailors teaches us this clearly. [5] For surely, if the rough surf was shared in common, they would not attempt to learn the reason for the rough surf by lot. But since they saw the other ships cutting through the surface of the sea without any danger, and their own ship was being tossed about by waves three times larger than normal, they first turned to prayer, beseeching the one each individual thought was God. Consequently finding no passage of safety, they awakened Jonah who was held fast by sleep. Since Jonah was pricked by his conscience, hit with discouragement, and not bearing the stings of reason,49 he obtained consolation from sleep. And when such a disturbance arose against the boat—the waves breaking against the boat outside, and the sailors fretting inside—he himself did not sleep simply or moderately. But since he was seized by a deep sleep, he also snored, as he himself indicated when he wrote his book. [6] But after the captain woke him up, he compelled Jonah to offer prayers to his God right away, not realizing that his flight removed such liberty of approaching50 God. [7] But since the danger did not desist in any way, they were able to learn the reason for the rough water by lot, knowing that in all likelihood (for they had possessed natural knowledge), vengeance is stored up for sinners, and we pay the penalty we deserve for the things we have done wrong. And since the lot was an accuser and witness against the prophet, he is led to the judgment place. The sailors play the role of jurors, and demand a public examination of the way Jonah had lived his life. 49 Verse 8: “For announce to us,” they say, “What is your work and from where do you come? And where are you going, and from what sort of country and what sort of people are you?” Therefore, with absolute precision,55 they were asking questions, since they wanted to learn from every angle the reason for the storm. They order him to say not only for what reason he takes off and where he is going, but also from what sort of people he originates,56 in order that they might learn the life of the man from the common customs of the people. Therefore responding to these questions, Jonah said: Verse 9: “I am a servant of the Lord. And I worship the Lord God of heaven, who made the sea and dry land.” The prophet is truly admirable and worthy of praise.57 For even when he is awaiting58 the sentence of death, he becomes a herald of the power of the God of the universe, calling him the Maker and Master of all. But the majority of people in that time were serving idols, and they were ignorant about the Creator of all. The blessed prophet had to reveal him to the ignorant. And he also confesses the reason for his flight: “Since I was influenced by folly, I supposed I could escape the one who I know is the Maker and Master not only of earth and sea, but also heaven.” 55 Verse 10: And they said to him, “Why have you done this?” They are saying: “How do you, who know these things and have been entrusted to teach the others, bring yourself 67 to flee a God who is present everywhere?” Not yielding to God bears such great shame. For indeed the prophet, the teacher of others, received the judgment by men who were trapped in ignorance. But nevertheless, even after hearing his words, blaming him severely and feeling resentment, the sailors are not prepared to carry out a death sentence. But, they wait for him, as a prophet, to show what should be done. Verse 11: For they say: “What shall we do to you so the sea will abate from us? For the surf became more intense after casting lots. So finally the blessed prophet, since he recognized divine wrath, condemned himself to death. Verse 12: “Lift me up and cast me into the sea, and the sea will abate from you since I know that this great surf is upon you because of me.” 66 But when the sailors heard these words, they did not immediately carry out his command, but they waited,70 expecting there would be some cessation to their troubles. And using the oars, they tried to bring the boat to shore. But since the force of the sea was preventing them from doing this, first having propitiated God in prayer, they handed Jonah over to the sea without waiting any further. Verse 14: For they say: “By no means, Lord, let us be destroyed on account of the life of this man, and do not place innocent blood on us. Because you, Lord, whatever you wish, you have done.” And clearly, since they have learned that the sentence against him was decreed by God, they pray that in assisting with the sentence, they not pay the penalty. “For do not place,” they say, innocent blood on us.” That is to say, “we will not pay the penalty, O Master, for innocent blood.” [15, 16] And after the prophet was handed over to the sea in this fashion,71 the squall of the high surf was calmed. The souls of the men who saw this were instilled with fear72 so that they offered sacrifices to God after they returned to the shore, and they believed that this one is the only Lord of all. |