1.
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
displeased = vexed. Not the waywardness of a child, but the displeasure of a man of God, for great and sufficient reason to him. Now that Nineveh was spared, it might after all be used as God's rod for Israel, and thus destroy the hope held out by him to Israel in 2 Kings 14:25 . See note on Jonah 3:5 and p. 1247.
2.
And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
Therefore I fled = hasted to flee. The reason follows, as explained in note on Jonah 4:1 .
I knew. This was well known, from Jehovah's revelation of Himself. Jonah knew, and referred to the Pentateuch (Exodus 34:6 . Numbers 14:18 , Numbers 14:19 ). David knew (Psalms 86:5 ). Hosea knew (Hosea 11:8 , Hosea 11:9 ). Joel knew (Joel 2:13 ). Micah knew (Micah 7:18 ). Jonah's knowledge explains his flight (Jonah 1:3 ). No one could tall us this but himself. GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .
evil. Hebrew. ra'a . App-44 .
3.
Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
life = soul Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
4.
Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?
5.
So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
made him = made for himself.
booth = hut.
become of = happen to. Hoping for its overthrow.
6.
And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
God. Hebrew. Elohim (i.e. Creator). App-4 .
prepared = appointed: as in verses: Jonah 4:7 , Jonah 4:8 , Jon 4:17 .
gourd. Hebrew. kikayon . Art Egyptian word.
shadow. to deliver him. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ). Hebrew. tzel. le hatztzel.
grief = evil, or evil ease. Heb ra'a'. App-44 .
was exceeding glad. Note the Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ) for emphasis. Hebrew = rejoiced with great rejoicing.
7.
But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
worm. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for a blight of such; as in Deuteronomy 28:39 . They were appointed during the night, and came at sunrise.
8.
And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
vehement = silent, still. Hence, sultry. Occurs only here. Not a "late" word, but not required to be used before this.
east wind = hot wind. Not the same kind as in western climes. Ref to Pent (Ex Jon 10:13 , Jon 10:19 ) App-92
wind. Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .
in himself = in his soul. Hebrew. Nephesh . App-13 .
9.
And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
I do well. Supply "I do well [it is right]".
10.
Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
hast had pity on: or, wouldst have spared: same word as in Jonah 4:11 .
came up in a night = was the son of a night.
perished in a night = perished as the son of a night.
11.
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
should not I. ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), no answer being required.
are = exits. Hebrew. yesh. See note on Proverbs 8:21 .
that cannot discern, &c. Put by Hebrew Idiom ( App-6 ), for little children; a similar idiom in Deuteronomy 1:39 App-92 .
much cattle. See notes on "great city", Jonah 3:2 ; and "herd and flock", Jonah 3:7 . Nineveh's walls included large areas for pasturage and cultivation. In speaking of the innocent ones in the city these are naturally included. Thus the book suddenly ends; and we are left with the solemn reflection that, Nineveh being spared, the way was thus open for the execution of Jehovah's judgment on Israel by the sword of Assyria, which took place in due time.