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himself in that night! Without thankfulness for the mercies of the day, and without asking for protection through the night, we picture the prophet retiring to rest. Surely in the morning he would return, for the further he goes the worse he fares, and he must see. that fleeing from God can bring him no peace. But no his mind is made up to go to Tarshish.

The locality of few places has given rise to more discussion than that of this Tarshish.

It is contended that Tarsus in Cilicia is meant; and certainly the trade that has gone on between these two places indicates that ships often went from Joppa laden with merchandise. But it seems more probable that Tartessus in the south of Spain is intended, with which port a considerable trade was carried on.

It was a city and emporium of the Phoenicians, which from a very early age traded with Syria in the minerals † and other

*In English the name is variously written "Tarshish," "Tarsis," and "Tarsus."

+ Ezek. xxvii. 12.

productions with which Spain abounded. From the size and build of these ships, so much larger than the coasting-vessels, the term ships of Tarshish got to be applied to any merchant ship of large size, just as our name of East Indiaman is given to a vessel with reference to her build, rather than to her destination.

If Jonah was at Gath when the word of the Lord came to him, it is difficult to suppose that he should go south to Joppa, to sail for Tarshish, when Tyre and Sidon, to the north, were so much nearer, both to Gath and to Tarshish.

But Jonah wanted to get as far away as possible; not only from the presence of God. but from Nineveh, to which he was sent.

His first resort would be the quay, and his first inquiry would be for a ship bound for Tarshish. He finds one; but probably she is not ready to sail; for ships did not leave Joppa every day for so distant a port. She was getting her cargo on board, or waiting for freight, as her hold was far from being full, and a voyage with half a cargo would never pay.

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All this suggests delay; and delay would give Jonah opportunities for reflection and repentance. How miserable to be there at Joppa, with no friends, and no employment! how heavily time would hang on his hands! If he went to the water-side, and watched the loading of the ship that was to take him, how slow the men were about their work!— for no nimble cranes swung cargo into the hold then, surely the delay and suspense, and inactivity would be considerable! He must repent and return!

But no! the steps already taken make the next, at one time impossible, now natural and

easy.

At last the day comes for the vessel to set sail; it is not too late even now to return; he has not paid his fare. But he now counts out the money into the captain's hand, the bargain is closed, the final step is taken that separates him from his native land; he steps on board the ship, the sailors weigh anchor, and throw off the ropes that fasten her to the shore, and the voyage to Tarshish has begun.

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JONAH ON BOARD SHIP.

JONAH'S heart must have sunk within him as he contemplated his voyage. When waiting for the vessel to sail he looked out across

the sea, and saw the breakers dashing over the northern end of the ledge of rocks that defend the inner harbour, there was nothing very cheering in the prospect.

The sea was an unknown region to the Jews; they never were a maritime people, and in those days a voyage was a much more serious matter than it is now.

To sail to Tarshish over a rough sea on a pleasant mission was bad enough, but for one in Jonah's position it was a most wretched undertaking.

All around him was the treacherous sea; before him was the horizon bright with no hopefulness, but drear and dark. Perhaps there were signs of the coming storm, as the vessel cleared the harbour, and stood out to sea.

The ship was probably a Phoenician one, · and manned by Phoenician sailors. The vessels engaged in this trade, built after the model of the Carthaginian ships, were stoutbuilt craft, as ships were then, but heavy, and slow, and unmanageable; and made rather for cargo than for passengers, as Jonah soon discovered,

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