Albert Barnes Commentary Jonah 1:8

"Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; what is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?" — Jonah 1:8 (ASV)

Tell us, for whose cause—Literally, “for what to whom.” It may be that they thought Jonah had been guilty toward someone else. The lot had pointed him out. The mariners, still fearing to do wrong, asked him many pressing questions to understand why the anger of God followed him: “What have you done to whom?” “What is your occupation?”—that is, either his ordinary occupation (whether it was displeasing to God) or this particular business in which he was engaged, and for which he had come on board.

Such numerous questions have been admired in human poetry, Jerome says, for this is true to nature. They think that one of them will draw out the answer they wish. It may be that they thought his country, or people, or parents were under the displeasure of God.

But perhaps, more naturally, they wished to “know all about him,” as people say. These questions must have gone home to Jonah’s conscience. “What is your business?” The office of prophet, which he had left. “From where do you come?” From standing before God, as His minister. “What is your country? Of what people are you?” The people of God, whom he had abandoned for the pagan world—not to win those pagans to God, as He commanded, but for them, unknowingly, to abet him in his flight.

What is your occupation?—Those who have Jonah’s office to speak in the name of God and preach repentance should ask themselves this. “What should be your business, you who have consecrated yourself wholly to God, whom God has loaded with daily benefits? You who approach Him as a Friend? What is your business?” To live for God, to despise the things of earth, to behold the things of heaven—and to lead others heavenward.

Jonah answers simply the central point to which all these questions tended: