Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life - i:e., for taking this man's life.
And lay not upon us innocent blood - do not punish us as thou wouldst punish the shedders of innocent blood (cf. Deuteronomy 21:8, "Lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge"). In the case of the antitype, the Saviour unjustly condemned to death, Pontius Pilate washed his hands and confessed Christ's innocence, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person." But whereas Jonah, the victim, was guilty, and the sailors innocent, Christ, our sacrificial victim, was innocent, and Pontius Pilate and all of us men were guilty. But, by imputation of our guilt to Him and His righteousness to us, the spotless antitype exactly corresponds to the guilty type.
For thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee - that Jonah has embarked in this ship, that a tempest has arisen that he has been detected by casting of lots, that he has passed sentence on himself, is all thy doing. We reluctantly put him to death, but it is thy pleasure it should be so.