Jonah 2

It contains the prayer of Jonah, when he w r as in the fish’s belly; and his deliverance from thence.

Jonah 2:1

JL HEN Jonah prayed xinto the Lord out of the fish’s belly. Those devout thoughts which he had at that time, he afterward digested into the following prayer; and added, a thanksgiving for his deliverance at the end of it. So several of David’s Psalms were probably composed after his trouble was over; but in a manner suitable to the thoughts he had at the time of his affliction, and with a grateful sense of God’s mercies for his deliverance out of it. (See Psal. liv. cxx.)

Jonah 2:2

Out of the belly of hell cried I. The word sheol signifies the state of the dead. (See the note on Isa. xiv. 9.) So it may most properly be rendered the grave here, as tho margin reads: the belly of the fish was to Jonah instead of a grave.

Jonah 2:4

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight: yet I will look again towards thy holy temple. My first apprehensions were, that as I had justly forfeited thy favour by my disobedience; so thou wouldest cast me out of thy protection: (sec ver. 7. and compare Psal. xxxi.22.) yet, upon recollecting myself, I thought it my duty not to despair of thy mercy, but direct my prayer towards thy heavenly habitation. (See ver. 7.)

Jonah 2:5

The waters compassed me even to the sotil. When I was thrown into the sea, I thought myself just ready to be drowned. (Compare Psal. lxix. 1.)