Commentary for Jonah 2:9

Those who keep worthless futilities—The nations of the world, who worship idols.

abandon their kindness—The fear of the Holy One, blessed be He, from Whom all their kindness and benefit emanate, they abandon; but I am not so, but “with a voice of thanks will I sacrifice to You.” In this manner did Jonathan render it. But in Pirk&d’Rabbi Eliezer (ch. 10), they expounded this as an allusion to the sailors who abandoned their kindness that they were bestowing upon the idols and proselytized.