‘For which reason they cried to YHWH, and said, “We beseech you, O YHWH, we beseech you, do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not lay on us innocent blood, for you, O YHWH, have done as it pleased you.” '
When all proved vain they recognised that they were left with little alternative, and began to cry to YHWH, as Jonah's offended God, not to cause them to perish because of what this man had done, and because He wanted to take Jonah's life. And they begged that they might not be seen as murderers for what they were about to do, because they were simply doing it because it was YHWH's requirement, and because they were seeking to conciliate Him. It was man's typical, ‘its not my fault God, its yours'. But what they were really planning was murder.