“At last” (New English Bible) implies an interval of time between verses 6 and 7, but this is not necessary to the narrative. In any event, the scene shifts from the hold, where Jonah was lying, to the sailors on deck. Prayer had so far achieved nothing; perhaps if they could find out who was to blame for the storm, some other remedy might be found. New English Bible and Bible in Basic English follow King James Version in a rather literalistic use of the word “come.” But the Hebrew word is merely an introductory signal to indicate that a suggestion is being put forward (compare 2 Kgs 5.5 King James Version). Often languages use other expressions, such as “Look!” to introduce a proposal for action. Jerusalem Bible with “come on” is certainly more idiomatic than New English Bible.

Because of the shift of location and at least some period of time involved in the transition between verses 6 and 7, it may be important to introduce verse 7 by “Then the sailors said” or “Later, after Jonah had joined them on deck, the sailors said.”

Let’s draw lots. Every culture has its own method of determining who is to be held responsible in a situation such as this; for example, tossing a coin (Winding Quest “let’s toss up”), or drawing straws from a bundle. Jonah’s name was drawn implies a situation where names were written on pieces of wood.

The techniques of divination differ very widely, and therefore expressions related to such methods may be quite diverse; for example, “throw the stones,” “drop the pieces of wood,” or “scatter the feathers.” In some instances the appropriate expression would be “Let us consult the spirits” or “Let us ask the gods.”

In any event, it was believed (compare Prov 16.33) that God, or the gods, would be able to control the “luck of the draw” in such a way as to indicate who is to blame. This represents a somewhat uncommon way of saying in Hebrew “on whose account,” by using a shortened form of the relative particle. The superstitious outlook of the sailors is implied by New English Bible‘s reference to “this bad luck.”

Who is to blame may be rendered in some languages as a causative, for example, “who has caused us to be in such danger” or “who has caused us to almost die.”

The verb did in the clause They did so is a typical substitute verb; that is to say, it substitutes for a verb expression such as draw lots. In other languages, however, it may be necessary to repeat the verb; for example, “they consulted the gods.”

In place of Jonah’s name was drawn, a more typical expression may be “the stick pointed to Jonah,” or “the stone was Jonah’s” (referring to techniques of divination), or “Jonah was named,” or possibly “they learned that it was Jonah.”

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. et al. A Handbook on the Book of Jonah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1978, 1982, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .