Where did Jonah try to run away?
BREAKDOWN
The prophet Jonah attempted to run away to Tarshish, explicitly stated in Jonah 1:3. God had commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, to prophesy against its wickedness, as recorded in Jonah 1:1-2: "Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.'" However, Jonah's deep-seated prejudice against the Assyrians, combined with a fear that God might show them mercy if they repented, led him to directly disobey this divine commission. Rather than heading east towards Nineveh, Jonah journeyed west to Joppa, a prominent port city on the Mediterranean coast. There, he found a ship bound for Tarshish, a distant maritime trading center generally identified with Tartessos in southern Spain, which represented the known westernmost extreme of the world at that time. His intention was to place as much physical distance as possible between himself and the place of God's command, in a futile effort to escape "from the presence of Yahweh." This act of rebellion highlights the human tendency to resist divine will, even when faced with a clear calling.
KEY TERMS
Nineveh
The capital city of the Assyrian Empire, to which Jonah was commanded to prophesy.
Tarshish
A distant maritime city, likely in southern Spain, representing Jonah's intended destination of escape.
Joppa
An ancient port city on the Mediterranean coast where Jonah embarked on his journey to Tarshish.
divine commission
A direct command or assignment given by God, as to a prophet like Jonah.
omnipresent God
A theological attribute of God meaning He is present everywhere at all times, making escape from Him impossible.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Jonah 1:1-2
Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me."
Jonah 1:3
But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh.
Jonah 3:1-2
Yahweh's word came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you."
INTERLINEAR ANALYSIS
Interlinear Hebrew
Jonah 1:3ORIGINAL LANGUAGE ANALYSIS
בָּרַח
flee
DefinitionTo run away, escape, depart swiftly.
תַּרְשִׁישׁ
Tarshish
DefinitionA distant maritime city, typically identified with Tartessos in Spain, symbolizing the far edge of the known world.
נִינְוֵה
Nineveh
DefinitionThe capital city of the Assyrian Empire, a powerful and often cruel ancient civilization.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
During the 8th century BCE, the period in which Jonah is traditionally dated, the Assyrian Empire was the dominant superpower in the ancient Near East, renowned for its military might and often brutal tactics. Nineveh, its formidable capital, symbolized this power and was a source of great fear and animosity among neighboring nations, including Israel. Joppa (modern Jaffa) was an ancient Phoenician and later Israelite port city, serving as a crucial hub for maritime trade across the Mediterranean. Tarshish, often identified with Tartessos in modern-day Spain, was a distant port, likely a Phoenician colony, representing the far reaches of the known world. Travel by sea in this era was dependent on wind and currents, making a journey from Joppa to Tarshish a significant and lengthy undertaking, underscoring Jonah's determined attempt to distance himself from his prophetic call. The cultural backdrop includes a strong sense of national identity among the Israelites and a general disdain for their oppressive Assyrian overlords.
THEOLOGICAL INSIGHT
Jonah's attempted flight to Tarshish underscores the profound theological truth of God's omnipresence and sovereignty. No geographical location or human endeavor can remove one from the Lord's presence or thwart His ultimate purpose. The narrative reveals that God's plan of salvation and mercy extends beyond Israel to the Gentile nations, a concept Jonah initially resisted, exposing the limitations of human understanding in the face of divine grace.
COMMENTARY SYNTHESIS
Rashi (Jewish)
Rashi suggests that Jonah's flight was motivated not solely by fear, but by a concern that if the people of Nineveh, a Gentile nation, repented and were forgiven more readily than Israel had, it would bring shame upon the Jewish people. He sought to avoid a prophetic mission that might inadvertently condemn his own nation through contrast.
Matthew Henry (Christian)
Matthew Henry highlights Jonah's deliberate act of disobedience, noting that he 'paid its fare,' signifying a costly and intentional rebellion against God's clear command. He emphasizes the irony of attempting to flee from the omnipresent God, demonstrating the futility of such an endeavor and God's persistent pursuit of His chosen instruments.
John Calvin (Christian)
Calvin views Jonah's resistance as a testament to the stubbornness and corruption of the human heart, even in one called to be a prophet. He points out that Jonah's actions reveal how self-interest and prejudice can blind individuals to their divine duties and God's universal mercy.