SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:7
Y dijeron cada uno a su compañero: Venid, y echemos suertes, para saber por quién nos ha venido este mal. Y echaron suertes, y la suerte cayó sobre Jonás.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Jonah 1:7
Verse 7. Come, and let us cast lots] This was a very ancient mode of endeavouring to find out the mind of Divine Providence; and in this case it proves that they supposed the storm to have arisen on account of some hidden crime of some person aboard. A philosopher being at sea in a violent storm. when the crew began to call earnestly to the gods for safety, he said, "Be silent, and cease your prayers; for should the gods know that you are here, we shall all be lost." The lot fell upon Jonah.] In this case God directed the lot.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. And they said everyone to his fellow , etc.] That Jonah awoke and rose up, upon the shipmaster’s calling to him, is certain; but whether or no he called upon his God is not; perhaps he did: and when his prayer was over, and the storm still continuing, the sailors said one to another, come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil [is] upon us ; for, Observing something very uncommon and extraordinary in the tempest, and all means, both natural and religious, failing to help them; and though they might know that they were each one of them sinners, yet they supposed there must be some one notorious sinner among them, that had committed some very enormous crime, which had drawn the divine resentment upon them to such a degree; and therefore they proposed to cast a lot, which was an appeal to the divine Being, in order to find out the guilty person. That the Heathens used the lot upon occasion is not only manifest from profane writers, but from the sacred Scriptures; as Haman, and other enemies of God’s people; and the soldiers that attended the cross of Christ, ( Esther 9:24 Joel 3:3 Obidiah 1:11) (Na 3:10 Matthew 27:35). Drusius reports, from Xavierus, of some Heathens sailing to Japan, and other places in the East Indies, that they used to carry an idol with them, and by lots inquire of it whither they should go; and whether they should have prosperous winds, etc. so they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah ; through the overruling providence and disposing hand of God, which attended this affair; for, not to inquire whether the use of the lot was lawful or not, or whether performed in that serious and solemn manner as it should be, if used at all; it pleased God to interfere in this matter, to direct it to fall on Jonah, with whom he had a particular concern, being a prophet of his, and having disobeyed his will; (see Proverbs 16:33). The Syriac version renders it, “the lot of Jonah came up”; that is, the piece of paper, or whatever it was, on which his name was written, was taken up first out of the vessel in which the lots were put.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-7 - God sent a pursuer after Jonah, even a mighty tempest. Sin bring storms and tempests into the soul, into the family, into churches an nations; it is a disquieting, disturbing thing. Having called upo their gods for help, the sailors did what they could to hel themselves. Oh that men would be thus wise for their souls, and woul be willing to part with that wealth, pleasure, and honour, which the cannot keep without making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience and ruining their souls for ever! Jonah was fast asleep. Sin i stupifying, and we are to take heed lest at any time our hearts ar hardened by the deceitfulness of it. What do men mean by sleeping on i sin, when the word of God and the convictions of their own consciences warn them to arise and call on the Lord, if they would escap everlasting misery? Should not we warn each other to awake, to arise to call upon our God, if so be he will deliver us? The sailor concluded the storm was a messenger of Divine justice sent to some on in that ship. Whatever evil is upon us at any time, there is a caus for it; and each must pray, Lord, show me wherefore thou contendes with me. The lot fell upon Jonah. God has many ways of bringing to light hidden sins and sinners, and making manifest that folly which wa thought to be hid from the eyes of all living.
Original Hebrew
ויאמרו 559 אישׁ 376 אל 413 רעהו 7453 לכו 1980 ונפילה 5307 גורלות 1486 ונדעה 3045 בשׁלמי 7945 הרעה 7451 הזאת 2063 לנו ויפלו 5307 גורלות 1486 ויפל 5307 הגורל 1486 על 5921 יונה׃ 3124