The sailors’ response to the storm also includes their hurling out (ṭûl; see Jonah 1:4) the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship (v 5). Fretheim suggests that while the sailors may have been attempting to lighten the ship by hurling its cargo overboard, the phrase may indicate “that the cargo is a sacrifice to the gods in order that the sea might be lightened” (1977, 82–83). Later, Jonah suggests to the sailors that they do the same to him “to make the sea calm down” (vv 11–12). Verse 5 ends with