“Why art thou asleep? Rise up, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think of us, that we may not perish!”
But the sailors, seeing that the violence of the storm continued to increase, proposed to cast lots that they might know why this evil[1] had come upon them. And they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonas[2]. Then Jonas confessed his sin and said: “Take me up, and cast me into the sea, and the sea shall be calm to you.”
The sailors, unwilling to throw Jonas overboard, rowed very hard to gain the shore, where they might leave him in safety. But they were not able; for the sea swelled and tossed higher than ever. At last they took Jonas and cast him into the sea, and immediately the storm ceased, and the sea was calm.
At the same moment the Lord sent a great fish[3], a whale, which opened its jaws and swallowed Jonas. And he remained three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, continually calling on God to save him, saying: “I am cast away, out of the sight of Thy eyes; but yet I shall see Thy holy temple again.” His prayer was heard, and on the third day the fish threw Jonas out of its mouth on the dry land.
And the Lord spoke a second time to Jonas and told him to go to Ninive, the great city, and preach penance. Jonas went without delay, and entering into the city, he walked a whole day through the streets, calling out as he went: “Yet forty days, and Ninive shall be destroyed.” The people of Ninive were struck with terror, knowing how guilty they were, and a general fast was proclaimed throughout the whole city, both for man and beast.
- ↑ Why this evil. They were convinced that some one on board must have secretly committed a great sin, and that an angry divinity had sent this terrible storm as a punishment. Even the heathens believed in divine retribution.
- ↑ Upon Jonas. By God’s Providence.
- ↑ A great fish. Probably a shark (Fig. 51). This fish has been known to be as much as thirty feet long, and has such enormous jaws that it could easily swallow a man whole. That Jonas remained alive inside the fish and was thrown up by it on dry land, was a miracle of God’s omnipotence.
