Jonah tried to run away from the Lord, but he could not succeed. No one can escape God (Psalm 139:7–10) or disobey his will without facing consequences (Deuteronomy 8:5). Jonah's hesitation to go to Nineveh is understandable. Assyria was an enemy of Israel known for its violence (Jonah 3:8; see also Nahum 3:1–4). Jonah did not want these non-Israelites to have the chance to repent and be saved (Jonah 4:2).
Joppa was an important port city on the Mediterranean coast (2 Chronicles 2:16; Ezra 3:7); it is now a suburb of modern Tel Aviv.
Tarshish might have been the port city of Tartessos in Spain, meaning Jonah tried to flee as far as possible in the opposite direction from Nineveh. Tarsus in Asia Minor is another possibility. Some believe Tarshish refers to the sea or any destination reachable by sea.