Study Desk

For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your recompense will return upon your own head.

For as you have drunk on My holy hill, so all the nations will drink continually. They will drink and gulp down, and be as if they had never been.

Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph a burning flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble-Jacob will set it ablaze and consume it. Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau." For the LORD has spoken.

Jonah, however, got up and fled to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

"Come!" said the sailors to one another. "Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

"Tell us now," they demanded, "who is to blame for this calamity that is upon us? What is your occupation, and where have you come from? What is your country, and who are your people?"

Now the sea was growing worse and worse, so they said to Jonah, "What must we do to you to calm this sea for us?"

"Pick me up," he answered, "and cast me into the sea, so it may quiet down for you. For I know that I am to blame for this violent storm that has come upon you."

Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more.

So they cried out to the LORD: "Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man's life! Do not charge us with innocent blood! For You, O LORD, have done as You pleased."

saying: "In my distress I called to the LORD and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice.

For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me. All Your breakers and waves swept over me.

And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."

As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, "It is better for me to die than to live."

For behold, the LORD comes forth out of His dwelling place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.

All this is for the transgression of Jacob and the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?

Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble in the open field, a planting area for a vineyard. I will pour her stones into the valley and expose her foundations.

For her wound is incurable; it has reached even Judah; it has approached the gate of my people, as far as Jerusalem itself.

For the residents of Maroth pined for good, but calamity came down from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem.

Harness the horses to the chariot, O inhabitant of Lachish. You were the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.