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. And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. The sailors were unwilling to throw Jonah into the sea to save themselves. In II Kings 14:25 Jonah is mentioned as being a prophet of God during the reign of King Jeroboam II (793-753 BC). Still God had other plans. The captain knew that everyone had a god. He knew that the people of Nineveh were bad.