📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 10

בַּחֲמִישִׁי בָּרַח יוֹנָה מִפְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים, וְלָמָּה בָּרַח? אֶלָּא פַּעַם רִאשׁוֹן שְׁלָחוֹ לְהָשִׁיב אֶת גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעָמְדוּ דְּבָרָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב יד, כה): ״הוּא הֵשִׁיב אֶת גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִלְּבוֹא חֲמָת״ וְכוּ'. פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה שְׁלָחוֹ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם לְהַחֲרִיבָהּ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָשָׂה כְּרוֹב חֲסָדָיו וְנִחַם עַל הָרָעָה וְלֹא חָרְבָה, וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹרְאִין אוֹתוֹ נְבִיא שֶׁקֶר. פַּעַם שְׁלִישִׁית שְׁלָחוֹ לְנִינְוֵה, דָּן יוֹנָה דִּין בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ, אָמַר: אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁזֶּה הַגּוֹי קְרוֹבֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה הֵם, עַכְשָׁיו עוֹשִׂין תְּשׁוּבָה וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שׁוֹלֵחַ רֻגְזוֹ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלֹא דַי שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל קוֹרִין אוֹתִי נְבִיא הַשֶּׁקֶר אֶלָּא אַף הָעַכּוּ״ם. הֲרֵינִי בּוֹרֵחַ לִי לְמָקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר כְּבוֹדוֹ שָׁם; אִם עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם נֶאֱמַר שֶׁכְּבוֹדוֹ שָׁם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קיג, ד): ״עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם כְּבוֹדוֹ״, עַל הָאָרֶץ נֶאֱמַר שֶׁכְּבוֹדוֹ שָׁם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו ו, ג): ״מְלֹא כָל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ״, הֲרֵינִי בּוֹרֵחַ לִי לְמָקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר כְּבוֹדוֹ שָׁם. יָרַד יוֹנָה לְיָפוֹ וְלֹא מָצָא שָׁם אֳנִיָּה לִירֵד בָּהּ, וְהָאֳנִיָּה שֶׁיָּרַד בָּהּ יוֹנָה הָיְתָה רְחוֹקָה מִיָּפוֹ מַהֲלַךְ שְׁנֵי יָמִים לְנַסּוֹת אֶת יוֹנָה. מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? הֵבִיא עָלֶיהָ רוּחַ סְעָרָה בַּיָּם וְהֶחֱזִירָהּ לְיָפוֹ, וְרָאָה יוֹנָה וְשָׂמַח בְּלִבּוֹ וְאָמַר: עַכְשָׁיו אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁדַּרְכִּי מְיֻשָּׁרָה לְפָנַי.

THE HISTORY OF JONAH ON the fifth day Jonah fled before his God. Why did he flee? Because on the first occasion when (God) sent him to restore the border of Israel, his words were fulfilled, as it is said, "And he restored the border of Israel from the entering in of Hamath" (2 Kings 14:25). On the second occasion (God) sent him to Jerusalem to (prophesy that He would) destroy it. But the Holy One, blessed be He, did according to the abundance of His tender mercy and repented of the evil (decree), and He did not destroy it; thereupon they called him a lying prophet. On the third occasion (God) sent him against Nineveh to destroy it. Jonah argued with himself, saying, I know that the nations are nigh to repentance, now they will repent and the Holy One, blessed be He, will direct His anger against Israel. And is it not enough for me that Israel should call me a lying prophet; but shall also the nations of the world (do likewise)? Therefore, behold, I will escape from His presence to a place where His glory is not declared. (If) I ascend above the heavens, it is said, "Above the heavens is his glory" (Ps. 113:4). (If) above the earth, (it is said), "The whole earth is full of his glory" (Isa. 6:8); behold, I will escape to the sea, to a place || where His glory is not proclaimed. Jonah went down to Joppa, but he did not find there a ship in which he could embark, for the ship in which Jonah might have embarked was two days' journey away from Joppa, in order to test Jonah. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He sent against it a mighty tempest on the sea and brought it back to Joppa. Then Jonah saw and rejoiced in his heart, saying, Now I know that my ways will prosper before me.

אָמַר לָהֶם: ״אֵרֵד עִמָּכֶם״. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: ״הֲרֵי אָנוּ הוֹלְכִים לְאִיֵּי הַיָּם תַּרְשִׁישָׁה״. אָמַר לָהֶם: ״אָבֹא עִמָּכֶם״. וְדֶרֶךְ כָּל הָאֳנִיּוֹת כְּשֶׁאָדָם יוֹצֵא מִמֶּנָּה הוּא נוֹתֵן שְׂכָרָהּ, וְיוֹנָה בְּשִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ הִקְדִּים וְנָתַן שְׂכָרָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה א, ג): ״וַיָּקָם יוֹנָה לִבְרֹחַ תַּרְשִׁישָׁה מִלִּפְנֵי ה' וַיֵּרֶד יָפוֹ״ וְכוּ'.

He said to the (sailors), We will embark with you. They replied to him, Behold, we are going to the islands of the sea, to Tarshish. He said to them, We will go with you. Now (this) is the custom on all ships that when a man disembarks therefrom he pays his fare; but Jonah, in the joy of his heart, paid his fare in advance, as it is said, "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord; and he went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them" (Jonah 1:3).

פָּרְשׂוּ מַהֲלַךְ יוֹם אֶחָד וְעָמַד עֲלֵיהֶם רוּחַ סְעָרָה בַּיָּם מִימִינָם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָם, וְדֶרֶךְ כָּל הָאֳנִיּוֹת עוֹבְרוֹת וְשָׁבוֹת בְּשָׁלוֹם בִּשְׁתִיקוֹת הַיָּם, וְהָאֳנִיָּה שֶׁיָּרַד בָּהּ יוֹנָה הָיְתָה בְּצָרָה גְדוֹלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה א, ד): ״וְהָאֳנִיָּה חִשְּׁבָה לְהִשָּׁבֵר״.

They had travelled one day's journey, and a mighty tempest on the sea arose against them on their right hand and on their left hand; but the movement of all the ships passing to and fro was peaceful in a quiet sea, but the ship into which Jonah had embarked was in great peril of shipwreck, as it is said, "But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like || to be broken" (Jonah 1:4).

רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אוֹמֵר: מִשִּׁבְעִים לְשׁוֹנוֹת הָיוּ בָּאֳנִיָּה, וְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד שִׁקּוּצוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה א, ה): ״וַיִּירְאוּ הַמַּלָּחִים וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אִישׁ אֶל אֱלֹהָיו״. וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ וַיֹּאמְרוּ: ״נִקְרָא אִישׁ אֶל אֱלֹהָיו וְהָיָה אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר יַעֲנֵהוּ וְיַצִּיל אוֹתָנוּ מִצָּרָה זֹאת הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים״. וְקָרְאוּ אִישׁ אֶל אֱלֹהָיו וְלֹא הוֹעִילוּ, וְיוֹנָה בְּצָרַת נַפְשׁוֹ נִרְדָּם וְיָשֵׁן לוֹ. בָּא אֵלָיו רַב הַחוֹבֵל, אָמַר לוֹ: ״הֲרֵי אָנוּ עוֹמְדִים בֵּין מָוֶת לְחַיִּים וְאַתָּה נִרְדָּם וְיָשֵׁן? מֵאֵיזֶה עַם אַתָּה?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״עִבְרִי אָנֹכִי״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״וַהֲלֹא שָׁמַעְנוּ שֶׁאֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים גָּדוֹל הוּא, קוּם קְרָא אֶל אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אוּלַי יִתְעַשֵּׁת הָאֱלֹהִים לָנוּ וְיַעֲשֶׂה עִמָּנוּ נִסִּים כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה לָכֶם בְּיָם סוּף״. אָמַר לָהֶם: ״לֹא אֲכַחֵד מִכֶּם, כִּי בִּשְׁבִילִי הַצָּרָה הַזֹּאת עֲלֵיכֶם; שָׂאוּנִי וַהֲטִילֻנִי אֶל הַיָּם וְיִשְׁתֹּק הַיָּם מֵעֲלֵיכֶם״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה א, יב): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם שָׂאוּנִי וַהֲטִילֻנִי״ וְכוּ'.

Rabbi Chanina said: (Men) of the seventy languages were there on the ship, and each one had his god in his hand, (each one) saying: And the God who shall reply and deliver us from this trouble, He shall be God. They arose and every one called upon the name of his god, but it availed nought. Now Jonah, because of the anguish of his soul, was slumbering and asleep. The captain of the ship came to him, saying, Behold, we are standing betwixt death and life, and thou art slumbering and sleeping; of what people art thou? He answered them, "I am an Hebrew" (Jonah 1:9). (The captain) said to him, Have we not heard that the God of the Hebrews is great? Arise, call upon thy God, perhaps He will work (salvation) for us according to all His miracles which He did for you at the Reed Sea. He answered them, It is on my account that this misfortune has befallen you; take me up and cast me into the sea and the sea will become calm unto you, as it is said, "And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you" (Jonah 1:12).

רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: לֹא קִבְּלוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים לְהַפִּיל אֶת יוֹנָה אֶל הַיָּם וְהִפִּילוּ גּוֹרָלוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם וַיִּפֹּל הַגּוֹרָל עַל יוֹנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה א, ז): ״וַיַּפִּלוּ גּוֹרָלוֹת״ וְכוּ', מֶה עָשׂוּ? נָטְלוּ אֶת הַכֵּלִים שֶׁבָּאֳנִיָּה וְהִשְׁלִיכוּ אוֹתָם אֶל הַיָּם לְהָקֵל מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וְלֹא הוֹעִיל מְאוּמָה; רָצוּ לַחְתֹּר בַּיַּבָּשָׁה וְלֹא יָכְלוּ; מֶה עָשׂוּ? נָטְלוּ אֶת יוֹנָה וְעָמְדוּ עַל יַרְכְּתֵי הַסְּפִינָה וְאָמְרוּ: ״אֱלֹהֵי עוֹלָם ה', אַל תִּתֵּן עָלֵינוּ דָּם נָקִי, שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִין מַה טִּיבוֹ שֶׁל הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה״. אָמַר לָהֶם: ״בִּשְׁבִילִי הַצָּרָה הַזֹּאת עֲלֵיכֶם, שָׂאוּנִי וַהֲטִילוּנִי אֶל הַיָּם״.

Rabbi Simeon said: The men would not consent to throw Jonah into the sea; but they cast lots among themselves and the lot fell upon Jonah. What did they do? They took all their utensils which were in the ship, and cast them into the sea in order to lighten it for their (safety), but it availed nought. || They wanted to return to the dry land, but they were unable, as it is said, "Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not" (Jonah 1:13). What did they do? They took Jonah and they stood on the side of the ship, saying, God of the world ! O Lord ! Do not lay upon us innocent blood, for we do not know what sort of person is this man; and he says deliberately, On my account has this misfortune befallen you.

מִיָּד נְטָלוּהוּ וְהִטִּילוּהוּ עַד אַרְכֻּבּוֹתָיו, וְעָמַד הַיָּם מִזַּעְפּוֹ; לָקְחוּ אוֹתוֹ אֶצְלָם וְהַיָּם סוֹעֵר עֲלֵיהֶם; הִטִּילוּהוּ עַד צַוָּארוֹ וְהֶעֱמִיד הַיָּם מִזַּעְפּוֹ; וְעוֹד הֶעֱלוּ אוֹתוֹ אֶצְלָן וְהַיָּם הוֹלֵךְ וְסוֹעֵר עֲלֵיהֶם; הִטִּילוּהוּ כֻּלּוֹ וּמִיָּד עָמַד הַיָּם מִזַּעְפּוֹ.

They took him (and cast him into the sea) up to his knee-joints, and the sea-storm abated. They took him up again to themselves and the sea became agitated again against them. They cast him in (again) up to his neck, and the sea-storm abated. Once more they lifted him up in their midst and the sea was again agitated against them, until they cast him in entirely and forthwith the sea-storm abated, as it is said, "So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging" (Jonah 1:15).

רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן אוֹמֵר: מְמֻנֶּה הָיָה אוֹתוֹ הַדָּג לִבְלֹעַ אֶת יוֹנָה מִשֵּׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, א): ״וַיְמַן ה' דָּג גָּדוֹל לִבְלֹעַ אֶת יוֹנָה״. נִכְנַס בְּפִיו כְּאָדָם שֶׁהוּא נִכְנָס בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה וְעָמַד, וְהָיוּ שְׁתֵּי עֵינָיו שֶׁל דָּג כַּחֲלוֹנוֹת אֲפוּמִיּוֹת מְאִירוֹת לְיוֹנָה.

"And the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah" (Jonah 1:17). Rabbi Ṭarphon said: That fish was specially appointed from the six days of Creation to swallow up Jonah, as it is said, "And the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah" (ibid.). He entered its mouth just as a man enters the great synagogue, and he stood (therein). The two eyes of the fish were like windows of glass giving light to Jonah.

רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: מַרְגָּלִית אַחַת הָיְתָה תְּלוּיָה בִּמְעָיו שֶׁל דָּג מְאִירָה לְיוֹנָה כַּשֶּׁמֶשׁ הַזֶּה שֶׁהוּא מֵאִיר בַּצָּהֳרַיִם וּמַרְאָה לוֹ כָּל מַה שֶּׁבַּיָּם וּבַתְּהוֹמוֹת, וְעָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (תהלים צז, יא): ״אוֹר זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק״.

Rabbi Meir said: || One pearl was suspended inside the belly of the fish and it gave illumination to Jonah, like this sun which shines with its might at noon; and it showed to Jonah all that was in the sea and in the depths, as it is said, "Light is sown for the righteous" (Ps. 97:11).

אָמַר לוֹ הַדָּג לְיוֹנָה: ״אֵין אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁבָּא יוֹמִי לְהֵאָכֵל בְּפִיו שֶׁל לִוְיָתָן?״ אָמַר לוֹ יוֹנָה: ״הוֹלִיכֵנִי אֶצְלוֹ״. אָמַר יוֹנָה לַלִּוְיָתָן: ״בִּשְׁבִילְךָ יָרַדְתִּי לִרְאוֹת מְקוֹם מְדוֹרְךָ שֶׁאֲנִי עָתִיד לִיתֵּן חֶבֶל בִּלְשׁוֹנְךָ וּלְהַעֲלוֹתְךָ וְלִזְבּוֹחַ אוֹתְךָ לַסְּעוּדָה הַגְּדוֹלָה שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים״. הֶרְאָהוּ חוֹתָמוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם, אָמַר: ״הַבֵּט לַבְּרִית״, וְרָאָה לִוְיָתָן וּבָרַח מִפְּנֵי יוֹנָה מַהֲלַךְ שְׁנֵי יָמִים. אָמַר לוֹ: ״הֲרֵי הִצַּלְתִּיךָ מִפִּיו שֶׁל לִוְיָתָן, הַרְאֵנִי כָּל מַה שֶּׁבַּיָּם וּבַתְּהוֹמוֹת״, וְהֶרְאָהוּ נָהָר גָּדוֹל שֶׁל מֵימֵי אוֹקְיָנוֹס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, ו): ״תְּהוֹם יְסֹבְבֵנִי״, וְהֶרְאָהוּ יַם סוּף שֶׁעָבְרוּ בְתוֹכוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, ו): ״סוּף חָבוּשׁ לְרֹאשִׁי״ וְהֶרְאָהוּ מְקוֹם מִשְׁבְּרֵי יָם וְגַלָּיו יוֹצְאִים מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, ד): ״כָּל מִשְׁבָּרֶיךָ וְגַלֶּיךָ עָלַי עָבָרוּ״, וְהֶרְאָהוּ עַמּוּדֵי אֶרֶץ וּמְכוֹנֶיהָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, ז): ״הָאָרֶץ בְּרִחֶיהָ בַעֲדִי לְעוֹלָם״, וְהֶרְאָהוּ גֵּיהִנֹּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, ז): ״וַתַּעַל מִשַּׁחַת חַיַּי ה' אֱלֹהָי״, וְהֶרְאָהוּ שְׁאוֹל תַּחְתִּית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, ב): ״מִבֶּטֶן שְׁאוֹל שִׁוַּעְתִּי שָׁמַעְתָּ קוֹלִי״, וְהֶרְאָהוּ הֵיכַל ה', שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, ז): ״לְקִצְבֵי הָרִים יָרַדְתִּי״, מִכָּאן אָנוּ לְמֵדִין שֶׁיְּרוּשָׁלַיִם עַל שִׁבְעָה הָרִים הִיא עוֹמֶדֶת, הֶרְאָהוּ אֶבֶן שְׁתִיָּה קְבוּעָה בַתְּהוֹמוֹת תַּחַת הֵיכַל ה' וּבְנֵי קֹרַח עוֹמְדִים וּמִתְפַּלְּלִין עָלֶיהָ. אָמַר לוֹ הַדָּג: ״יוֹנָה, הֲרֵי אַתָּה עוֹמֵד תַּחַת הֵיכַל ה', הִתְפַּלֵּל וְאַתָּה נַעֲנֶה״. אָמַר יוֹנָה לַדָּג: ״עֲמֹד בִּמְקוֹם עָמְדְּךָ שֶׁאֲנִי מְבַקֵּשׁ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל״. עָמַד הַדָּג וְהִתְחִיל יוֹנָה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְאָמַר לְפָנָיו: ״רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, נִקְרֵאתָ מוֹרִיד וּמַעֲלֶה, יָרַדְתִּי – הַעֲלֵנִי; נִקְרֵאתָ מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה, הֲרֵי נַפְשִׁי הִגִּיעָה לְמָוֶת – הַחֲיֵינִי״, וְלֹא נַעֲנָה, עַד שֶׁיָּצָא מִפִּיו דָּבָר זֶה וְאָמַר: ״אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתִּי אֲשַׁלֵּמָה, אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתִּי לְהַעֲלוֹת אֶת לִוְיָתָן וְלִזְבּוֹחַ אוֹתוֹ לְפָנֶיךָ אֲשַׁלֵּם בְּיוֹם יְשׁוּעַת יִשְׂרָאֵל״. מִיָּד רָמַז הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְהִשְׁלִיךְ אֶת יוֹנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, יא): ״וַיֹּאמֶר ה' לַדָּג וַיָּקֵא אֶת יוֹנָה אֶל הַיַּבָּשָׁה״.

The fish said to Jonah, Dost thou not know that my day had arrived to be devoured in the midst of Leviathan's mouth? Jonah replied, Take me beside it, and I will deliver thee and myself from its mouth. It brought him next to the Leviathan. (Jonah) said to the Leviathan, On thy account have I descended to see thy abode in the sea, for, moreover, in the future will I descend and put a rope in thy tongue, and I will bring thee up and prepare thee for the great feast of the righteous. (Jonah) showed it the seal of our father Abraham (saying), Look at the Covenant (seal), and Leviathan saw it and fled before Jonah a distance of two days' journey. (Jonah) said to it (i.e. the fish), Behold, I have saved thee from the mouth of Leviathan, show me what is in the sea and in the depths. It showed him the great river of the waters of the Ocean, as it is said, "The deep was round about me" (Jonah 2:5), and it showed him the paths of the Reed Sea through which Israel passed, as it is said, "The reeds were wrapped about my head" (ibid.); and it showed him the place whence the waves of the sea and its billows flow, as it is said, "All || thy waves and thy billows passed over me" (Jonah 2:3); and it showed him the pillars of the earth in its foundations, as it is said, "The earth with her bars for the world were by me" (Jonah 2:6); and it showed him the lowest Sheol, as it is said, "Yet hast thou brought up my life from destruction, O Lord, my God" (ibid.); and it showed him Gehinnom, as it is said, "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and thou didst hear my voice" (Jonah 2:2); and it showed him (what was) beneath the Temple of God, as it is said,"(I went down) to the bottom of the mountains" (Jonah 2:6). Hence we may learn that Jerusalem stands upon seven (hills), and he saw there the Eben Shethiyah (Foundation Stone) fixed in the depths. He saw there the sons of Korah standing and praying over it. They said to Jonah, Behold thou dost stand beneath the Temple of God, pray and thou wilt be answered. Forthwith Jonah said to the fish, Stand in the place where thou art standing, because I wish to pray. The fish stood (still), and Jonah began to pray before the Holy One, blessed be He, and he said: Sovereign of all the Universe ! Thou art called "the One who kills" and "the One who makes alive," behold, my soul has reached unto death, now restore me to life. He was not answered until this word came forth from his mouth, "What I have vowed I will perform" (Jonah 2:9), namely, I vowed to draw up Leviathan and to prepare it before Thee, I will perform (this) on the day of the Salvation of Israel, as it is said, "But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving" (ibid.). Forthwith the Holy One, blessed be He, hinted (to the fish) and it vomited out Jonah || upon the dry land, as it is said, "And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land" (Jonah 2:10).

רָאוּ הַמַּלָּחִים אֶת כָּל הָאוֹתוֹת וְהַנִּפְלָאוֹת הַגְּדוֹלוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עִם יוֹנָה. מִיָּד עָמְדוּ וְהִשְׁלִיכוּ אִישׁ אֶת אֱלֹהָיו בַּיָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, ט): ״מְשַׁמְּרִים הַבְלֵי שָׁוְא חַסְדָּם יַעֲזֹבוּ״. וְחָזְרוּ לְיָפוֹ וְעָלוּ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם וּמָלוּ אֶת בְּשַׂר עָרְלָתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה א, טז): ״וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים יִרְאָה גְדוֹלָה אֶת ה' וַיִּזְבְּחוּ זֶבַח לַה'״. וְכִי זֶבַח זָבְחוּ? וַהֲלֹא אֵין מְקַבְּלִין זֶבַח מִן הָעַכּוּ״ם, אֶלָּא זֶה הוּא דַּם בְּרִית שֶׁהוּא כְּדַם זֶבַח. וְנָדְרוּ וְשִׁלְּמוּ לְהָבִיא אִישׁ אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ לְיִרְאַת אֱלֹהֵי יוֹנָה, וְנָדְרוּ וְשִׁלְּמוּ. וַעֲלֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר ״עַל הַגֵּרִים״, גֵּירֵי הַצֶּדֶק.

The sailors saw all the signs, the miracles, and the great wonders which the Holy One, blessed be He, did unto Jonah, and they stood and they cast away every one his God, as it is said, "They that regard lying vanities forsake their own shame" (Jonah 2:8). They returned to Joppa and went up to Jerusalem and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins, as it is said, "And the men feared the Lord exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice unto the Lord" (Jonah 1:16). Did they offer sacrifice? But this (sacrifice) refers to the blood of the covenant of circumcision, which is like the blood of a sacrifice. And they made vows every one to bring his children and all belonging to him to the God of Jonah; and they made vows and performed them, and concerning them it says, "Upon the proselytes, the proselytes of righteousness."