From Daily Dose of Hebrew website. We are told that the symmetry is even more awesome in Hebrew. The threefold repetition of Tarshish emphasises that Jonah is seeking to go away from the presence of the LORD. All the while Jonah is descending, eventually into the depth of the sea.
A. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD ,
B. and went down to Joppa;
C. and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof,
B’. and went down into it,
A’. to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Pondering the significance of the centre of this chiasmus:
C. and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof,
All I can think of is: if we start fleeing from God’s presence and seek for the pleasures of the world ( Tarshish ?) , we will inevitably be transported there . And it will cost us !!
Any other interpretations ??