So being put into the 'heart of the earth' would mean that Jesus was handed over to the authority of men. Then the earth is the domain of man: Psalm 115.16 'The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.' Job 20.14b - 'he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly'. Being in some form of bondage or chain, just as Jonah was trapped in the belly, so Christ was in chains, then fixed to the cross, then in the graveįor the idiom of 'belly', the idea is that it is the center of the domain.Being in darkness (away from the light, or the light is hidden from you) - just as Jesus cried the utterance of desolation 'Why have you forsaken me'.

Jesus was taken by the guards who led him from place to place, and ultimately the cross. Jonah was swallowed by the whale and taken a place he did not want to go.

Being led by those around you, so you cannot decide where you go, but are led around by a force on the earth.

This is further strengthened by the idea of Jonah, who was not dead in the belly of the whale - or at least he was alive enough to pray his prayer of repentance - but nevertheless he was in the belly of the whale. I am not sure why people assume the trials of Jesus would only start when he died, given that the abuse, beatings, and crucifixion must also be counted (In my opinion) as part of trials of Jesus in 'the heart of the earth'. Therefore the three 'nights' of that darkness would start on the night of the trial (Thursday), and continued Friday and Saturday night, whereas the three 'days' would be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no handsĪgainst me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

I interpret the plain meaning of this as being subject to powers of the earth and its darkness.

What does dredge of the earth mean