Jonah 4

Jonah 4:1

DIspleased Jonab exceedingly] Not onely for feare of being thought a false Prophet: but also the zeale of Gods glory, which he thought was wronged by this change. And for affection he bore to Gods people: who had then no greater enemie to feare, then the Empire of Assyria: as by effect it appeared not long after.

Jonah 4:2

fled before unto Tarshish] Read Chap. 1. 3.

a gracious God and mercifull] Exodus 34:6. Psalms 86:5. Joe 2:13.

Jonah 4:4

Doest thou well to be angry] Or, Art thou greatly angry? Wilt thou be Judge when I do things for my glory, and when I do not? Others, O thou hast great cause to be angry: an ironicall reproofe.

Jonah 4:5

till he might see] For he doubted as yet whether God would shew them mercy or no: and therefore after fourty dayes he departed out of the citie, looking what issue God would send.

Jonah 4:6

prepared] Did miraculously cause this plant to spring and grow up to a great height. Peradventure this happened when the booth began to drie up, and shadow Jonah no more.

a gourd] Or, palmerist. Heb. Kikajon. A plant which is very common in those hot countreys, and groweth up to a great height, and spreadeth out in great breadth, called commonly Palma Christi.

his grief] Namely, from the heat, which increased the grief of his mind. Or to give him by the means of this plant some wholesome document, and remedy for his passion.

was exceeding glad] Heb. rejoyced with great joy.

Jonah 4:7

smote the gourd that it withered] Namely, did gnaw the root of it.

Jonah 4:8

vehement east-wind] Heb. a silent, or dease winde. That is to say, a still hot wind, which redoubled the heat of the Sunne. Others, a wind that made one deafe, it was so tempestuous.

and wished] 1 Kings 19:4.

Jonah 4:9

Doest thou well to be angry] Or, art thou greatly angry?

I do well to be angry] Or, I am greatly angry. Words of a passionate spirit, blinded with anger, rather then with any expresse rebellion. This declareth the great inconveniences whereinto God servants do fall when they give place to their own affections, and do not in all things willingly submit themselves to God.

Jonah 4:10

had pitie] Or, spared. That is, thou wouldest have spared and dearly preserved it.

came up in a night] Heb. was the sonne of the night.

Jonah 4:11

should not I spare Nineveh] Thus God mercifully reproveth him, which would pitie himselfe, and this gourd, and yet would restrain God to shew his compassion to so many thousand people.

cannot discern between] Little children, that are not yet come to age of understanding.