and proclaim against—My proclamation.

to flee to Tarshish—I.e, to a sea named Tarshish, which is outside the Holy Land. He said, “I will flee to the sea, for the Shechinah does not rest outside the Holy Land.” Said the Holy One, blessed be He, to him, “By your life, I have messengers like you to send after you and fetch you from there.” This is illustrated by an allegory of a priest’s slave who fled from his master and entered a cemetery [making it impossible for his master to retrieve him]. His master said to him, “I have slaves like you to send after you and fetch you from there.” Now what did Jonah see that he did not wish to go to Nineveh? He said, “The gentiles are quick to repent. Should I prophesy to them and they repent, I will be found condemning Israel, who do not heed the words of the prophets.” [from Mechilta, Exodus 12:1]

and he paid its hire—He paid its hire in advance; although it is not customary for those embarking upon the sea to pay the hire of the ship until they leave, he paid in advance. [Pirké d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 10; Tanhuma, Vayikra 8].

threatened to be broken—It appears as though it would be broken.

And the sailors—The men who conducted the ship.

each one... to his god—Of the seventy nations of the heathens were there.

The captain Heb. רַב הַחוֹבֵל, the captain of the sailors, for they, too, are called חוֹבְלֵי הַיָּם, the sailors of the sea; in O.F., gobernedors.

“What is the matter with you, sleeper?”—What is the matter with you to be sound asleep? Now is no time to sleep.

will think Heb. יִתְעַשֵּׁת, an expression of thought. Cf. (Ps. 146:4) “his thoughts (עֶשְׁתֹּנֹתָיו).” (Dan. 6:4) “And the king thought (עֲשִׁית).” [from Machberet Menachemp.139]

“Come, let’s cast lots”—They saw that the other ships were sailing in the sea calmly, and theirs was breaking. They said, “Because of one of us, this is taking place.” So we find in Pirké d’Rabbi Eliezer (ch. 10).

because of whom Heb. בְּשֶׁלְמִי, because of the deeds of which one of us.

“Tell us now, because of whom—Against whom have you sinned, that this evil should befall us because of it

What is your work—Perhaps you were negligent in your work.

and whence do you come? Perhaps a decree has been issued upon the people of that place even if you are not there.

and from what people are you?”—Perhaps your people have sinned.

“What is this that you have done?”—Why have you done this, to flee from before such a Ruler?

And the men rowed vigorously Heb. וַיַחְתְּרוּ, they toiled and busied themselves like one who digs a tunnel.

for the life of this man—I.e, for the sin of laying a hand upon his life.

and they made vows—that they would proselytize.