Jonah 2

Jonas prayer verse 1 c. the fish at Gods command spues out Jona on shore 10.

1. And Jona prayed unto the Lord his God out of the bowels of the fish .

2. And he said [viz after his deliverance for it appeared by the following words that the prophet drew up his prayer afterwards as a summery of inward conflict together with all the holy thoughts and motions and desires which the holy spirit inspires him with during his three days and three nights abode in the whales belly whereby he could well perceive that God wonderfully preserved and supported him amidst this grievous chastisement and would doubtless deliver him at last] I called [see Job 36 on verse 13]out of my distress [or because by reason of c.] unto the Lord and he answered me I cried out of the belly of the grave [that is out of the midst of the whale wherein I was shut up as in a grave and which seemed to have been mine]and thou hadst my voice .

3. For thou hadst cast me into the depth [viz by means of mariners whose action thou didst guide and govern]into the heart of the seas [that is into the very midst depth bottom of it compare Deuteronomy 4:11 Ezekiel 27:2 with the annotate]and the steam passed me all thy waves and thy billows passed over me [Psalms 42:8]

4. And I said [viz by myself that is I thought compare Psalms 31:23 with the annotate] I am cast out [or thrust out driven out] from before thine eyes nevertheless I shall again behold the temple of the holiness [that is thine holy temple where God was more especially present with his grace and savour Heb I shall add or continue to behold this special confidence and spirit of God wrought in the prophet whereby he obtained the victory over the flesh others I will nevertheless hold on to look towards thine holy temple that is to say I will not give over to wait for thy help which thou shalt send forth unto me out of thine holy temple that is for the Messiah’s sake typified by the temple compare below verse 8]

5. The waters had surrounded me even to the soul [so that they threatened to take away my life and were ready to suffocate me and bereave of my soul if thou hadst most graciously prevented it compare Psalms 69:2 and see Genesis 19:17 otherwise by waters there are also understood great straight and extremities see 2 Samuel 22:17] the abyss encompassed me the sedge was bound to my head [or the sea-grass was wound about my head understand as I was driving in the sea or lay in the whales belly that swallowed the sedge .]

6. I was gone down to the foundations of the mountains [Hebrew the cutting off that is the uttermost the lowermost part or bottom of the mountains or rock] the bars of the earth [Hebrew the earth her bars]were all about me [that is I was in the bottom of the sea as in a close prison surrounded on all sides with the earth and the rocks or mountains others and the earth with the bars &c.] in eternity [so that there was no likelihood and possibility of escape if thou hadst not miraculously saved and delivered me]but thou hast brought forth my life out of destruction [or pit grave compare above verse 3 and see Psalms 7:16 and 16.10 with the annotate] O Lord mo God .

7. When my soul was overwhelmed within me [compare Psalm 61 verse 3 wit the annotate]I thought on the Lord [as to forget God signifieth wickedness see Psalms 9:18 with the annotate so not to forget but remember him conside in and take refuge to him see Psalms 20:8 and 42.7 and 44.18 and 77.8c.] and my prayer came to thee [as Psalms 10:2] into the temple of thine holiness [see above verse 5 and compare 1 Kings 8:44 with the annotate some understand the heaven here and render it the palace of thine holiness see Psalms 11:4 likewise typified by the temple .]

8. They entertained false vanities [Hebrew vanities of falsehood lying nought frustration that is they that in distress do call upon idols and return thanks to them for what good they receive see 2Kings 16.15 Psalms 31:7 and 62.11 Jeremiah 2:5,8,11 with the annotate]forsake their own mercy [that is they do not consider of nor lay to heart the mercy and kindness which thou didst shew unto them but most thankful abscribe it to their idols or they forsake thee their true benefactour and the only God se Psalms 59:11 Jeremiah 22 with the annotate]

9. But I will offer unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving [or of pass se Psalms 50 verse 14 ,23 and 116.17 Hosea 14:2 Hebrews 13:15 c.] that which I voed [see Psalms 50:14 and 61.6 with the annotate]I will pay the salvation of the Lords [others all the salvation that is all deliverance of the bdy and soul doth come from him alone see Psalms 3.9 and 36.6,7,8]

10. Now the Lord spake to the fish [Hebrew properly said Gods saying in his commanding ordering disposing and effecting see Genesis 1 on verse 3 the sense is he ordered and caused the fish to do as followeth] and he spued Jona out upon the dry land as above chapter 1,9,13.]