Jonah 2 Study Notes

2:1-2 Sheol is the realm of the dead, often the grave. The fish’s stomach is metaphorically like a tomb. Jonah thought he was dead, and perhaps he literally was at some point. If so, the parallel with Christ’s resurrection (Mt 12:40) is even stronger. But God was present in Sheol (you heard my voice) to receive Jonah’s prayer. Indeed, God is everywhere we go (Ps 139:8).

2:3-5 Verses 3 and 5 depict Jonah’s dire circumstances. He sees both the breakers and the billows as judgment tools of God. But v. 4 sounds a note of faith and hope. Though he had been banished from God’s sight, he expected to look once more toward his holy temple, which means he expected he would live to pray again and perhaps even worship in the Jerusalem temple. Textual variations among Greek translations (LXX; Theodotion) make v. 4b into a question rather than a statement. For instance: “How will I look once more toward your holy temple?” The variations may have arisen because translators thought the optimism of v. 4 mixed poorly with the doom of vv. 3,5. However, the contrast is a literary feature and is likely original. Neck (Hb nephesh) in v. 5 can also be rendered “life,” but originally it meant “throat.” The image of water up to the prophet’s throat fits this context well.

2:6 Imagery for foundations of the mountains was provided by Israel’s own Mount Carmel, whose base extends into the Mediterranean Sea, ending in unseen depths below. As the earth (or the Pit) permanently imprisons the dead, so Jonah thought the fish’s body would trap him, but unexpectedly God was rescuing him. Both “earth” (Hb ’erets) and “pit” could refer here to the underworld as the CSB renders ’erets in Ezk 26:20; 32:18.

2:7 Reminiscent of thanksgiving songs in the Psalms (Pss 18; 30), Jonah tells the story of answered prayer (see also Jnh 2:1-2).

2:8-9 The Lord’s miraculous deliverance shows that he exists, unlike pagan idols. What I have vowed refers to a promised gift to God if he should answer prayer (Nm 21:2; 1Sm 1:11). Jonah promised praise and animal sacrifice. A fellowship offering was used to worship God at the completion of a vow (Nm 6:21; 2Sm 15:7-8; Pr 7:14).

2:10 Vomited, an ignoble means of exiting the fish, perhaps symbolizes God’s disgust at Jonah’s prior disobedience or even his continued bad attitude, which the subsequent narrative unfolds.