Jonah 1 - Summary

The word of the LORD comes to Jonah son of Amittai commanding him to preach against Nineveh, but the prophet flees toward Tarshish to escape the divine presence, booking passage on a ship from Joppa. The LORD hurls a great storm upon the sea, and while pagan sailors desperately cry to their gods and cast cargo overboard, Jonah sleeps in the ship's hold until awakened and identified by lot as the cause of calamity. After Jonah confesses his flight from the LORD and urges the sailors to throw him overboard—which they do only after vain efforts to row ashore—the sea grows calm, the men offer sacrifices to the LORD, and a great fish prepared by God swallows the prophet.