He said unto them; he readily gives them advice for their safety. Take me up: this he spake as a prophet directed of God, and not, as some Jewish rabbi thinks, choosing to die rather than to go to Nineveh. Cast me forth into the sea; throw me overboard into the sea; no other way must you deal with me than this, and this way I not only direct as expedient, but from God I give you it as a command, and you must do it; thus my God will punish my disobedience and contempt. So shall the sea be calm unto you; as a prophet I assure you the tempest shall cease, and you be safe, and by that you may know I being in the ship endangered you all. I know; I am assured of this, and though I have been your danger, and this was my fault, yet it shall not be my fault if you be drowned. For my sake; for my sin, which God will punish, but not by my own act, I must not leap overboard; it is a crime God will punish by that justice which is in this place. This great tempest is upon you; and will be, till you have executed God's sentence on me, which I willingly submit to.
Related Commentaries of Jonah 1:12
Jonah 1:12
12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.