Commentary for Jonah 2:5

And I said—when they cast me into the sea, “Behold I am dead, and I have been driven away from before Your eyes.”

I thought: That is, I thought then that I was driven away out of your sight, but from what I have seen - the miracle that the fish swallowed me and I'm still alive - I saw that Your sight and Your providence are still upon me, and so I knew that I would continue to gaze upon Your holy Temple.

By saying, "I thought I was driven away out of your sight," he means, "When I went down to Jaffa to flee to Tarshish, I thought that prophecy would no longer be in me. But all that I thought was for naught, because in truth I will again see Your holy Temple, for prophecy will necessarily return to me."

Instead—I saw that You have kept me alive all these days. I know that I will continue to gaze upon Your Holy Temple.