Bible fact · Direct biblical statement
Jonah sailed the opposite way
God sent Jonah east to Nineveh, but he boarded a ship going to Tarshish, in the far west. Jonah 1:1–3
Discover why
"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city"... "But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish." Jonah 1:1–3
A great storm came up, and Jonah told the sailors to throw him into the sea. Jonah 1:4–12
What the Bible does not say
Tarshish is usually located in the far west of the Mediterranean, but its exact site is debated.
Read the passage
Jonah 1:1–3 WEB
1Now the LORD’s word came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.” 3But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Test yourself
For children
God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah got on a ship going the other way!