Jonah in Rabbinic Literature - The Ship

The Ship

The storm which overtook Jonah is quoted as one of three most noteworthy storms (Eccl. R. i. 6).

After the sailors' prayers to their idols, as well as their efforts to turn about and lighten the ship, had proved futile, the crew finally was compelled to believe Jonah's statement that this calamity had befallen their craft on his account, and assented to his petition to be thrown overboard. Praying that they might not be held accountable for his death, they first lowered him far enough for the waters to touch his knees. Seeing that the storm subsided, they drew him back into the ship, whereupon the sea at once rose again. They repeated this experiment several times, each time lowering him deeper, but taking him out again, and each time with the same result, until finally they threw him into the sea (Yalk., l.c.).

Read more about this topic:  Jonah In Rabbinic Literature

Famous quotes containing the word ship:

    But Nature is no sentimentalist,—does not cosset or pamper us. We must see the world is rough and surly, and will not mind drowning a man or a woman; but swallows your ship like a grain of dust.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    You live on hopes, I guess. You always dream that someday you might have a lot of money, your ship might come in. But if the ship doesn’t come in, I’m going to work as long as I can.
    Marion Gray (b. c. 1914)