Jonah used this rhetorical question to show God how angry he was. Also, what Jonah said when he was back in his own country can be stated explicitly. AT: "When I was still in my own country I knew that if I warned the people of Nineveh, they would repent, and you would not destroy them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
Possible meanings are 1) "I tried to prevent this by fleeing to Tarshish" or 2) "I acted quickly and tried to flee to Tarshish" or 3) "I did all I could to flee to Tarshish."
Jonah's reason for wanting to die can be stated explicitly. AT: "since you will not destroy Nineveh as you said you would, please allow me to die" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])