Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/329

 “Why art  thou  asleep? Rise up,  call  upon  thy  God,  if  so  be  that God will  think  of  us,  that  we  may  not  perish!”

But the  sailors,  seeing  that  the  violence  of  the  storm  continued to  increase,  proposed  to  cast  lots  that  they  might  know why this  evil  had  come  upon  them. And they  cast  lots,  and the lot  fell  upon  Jonas. Then Jonas  confessed  his  sin  and  said: “Take me  up,  and  cast  me  into  the  sea,  and  the  sea  shall  be calm  to  you.”

The sailors,  unwilling  to  throw  Jonas  overboard,  rowed  very hard to  gain  the  shore,  where  they  might  leave  him  in  safety. But they  were  not  able;  for  the  sea  swelled  and  tossed  higher than ever. At last  they  took  Jonas  and  cast  him  into  the  sea, and immediately  the  storm  ceased,  and  the  sea  was  calm.

At the  same  moment  the  Lord  sent  a great  fish,  a whale, which opened  its  jaws  and  swallowed  Jonas. And he  remained three days  and  three  nights in the  belly  of  the  whale, continually calling  on  God to save  him,  saying:  “I  am cast  away,  out  of  the  sight of Thy  eyes; but  yet  I shall see Thy  holy  temple  again.” His prayer  was  heard,  and  on  the  third  day  the  fish  threw  Jonas out of  its  mouth  on  the  dry  land.

And the  Lord  spoke  a second  time  to  Jonas  and  told  him to go  to  Ninive,  the  great  city,  and  preach  penance. Jonas went without delay,  and  entering  into  the  city,  he  walked  a whole  day through the  streets,  calling  out  as  he  went:  “Yet  forty  days, and Ninive  shall  be  destroyed.”  The  people  of  Ninive  were struck with  terror,  knowing  how  guilty  they  were,  and  a general fast was  proclaimed  throughout  the  whole  city,  both  for  man and beast.