Jon 1:3 | TNotes | STEP | 1:3 Jonah’s attempt to get away from the Lord was futile. One cannot escape God (Ps 139:7-10 ) or disobey his will without consequence (Deut 8:5 ). Jonah’s reluctance to go to Nineveh is understandable, however. Assyria was an enemy of Israel known for its violence (Jon 3:8 ; see also Nah 3:1-4 ). Jonah did not want these non-Israelites to have the opportunity to repent and be saved (Jon 4:2 ). • Joppa was a key port city on the Mediterranean coast (2 Chr 2:16 ; Ezra 3:7 ); it is now a suburb of modern Tel-Aviv. • Tarshish was possibly the port city of Tartessos in Spain, in which case Jonah was attempting to flee as far as imaginable in the opposite direction from Nineveh. Tarsus in Asia Minor is another possibility. Some think Tarshish is a general reference to the sea or to any destination accessible by sea.

a1:3►

bPs 139:7-10►

cDeut 8:5►

dJon 3:8►

eNah 3:1-4►

fJon 4:2►

g2 Chr 2:16►

hEzra 3:7►

‏ Jonah 1:3

1:3 ^a Jonah’s attempt to get away from the Lord was futile. One cannot escape God (Ps 139:7-10 ^b) or disobey his will without consequence (Deut 8:5 ^c). Jonah’s reluctance to go to Nineveh is understandable, however. Assyria was an enemy of Israel known for its violence (Jon 3:8 ^d; see also Nah 3:1-4 ^e). Jonah did not want these non-Israelites to have the opportunity to repent and be saved (Jon 4:2 ^f).

• Joppa was a key port city on the Mediterranean coast (2 Chr 2:16 ^g; Ezra 3:7 ^h); it is now a suburb of modern Tel-Aviv.

• Tarshish was possibly the port city of Tartessos in Spain, in which case Jonah was attempting to flee as far as imaginable in the opposite direction from Nineveh. Tarsus in Asia Minor is another possibility. Some think Tarshish is a general reference to the sea or to any destination accessible by sea.