Jonah 3

3 exceeding great. Lit., “great to God”: see note on Gen. x. 9.

three days’ journey. i.e., in circumference; sixty miles. A quadrangle 160 stadia (furlongs) by 90.—(Diodorus Siculus.) The walls enclosed large open spaces: parks, farms, and pastures.

4 a day’s journey. As far as he could go in a day whilst proclaiming his message: see note on i. 2. Up and down in the city; not in a direct line across.

Yet forty days, etc. An unconditional announcement in form; yet, as the sequel shows, conditioned by the people’s conduct.

5 the people of Nineveh believed God. They believed in the supremacy of the God of Israel, in the certainty of His judgements, and in His willingness to pardon the repentant. Our Lord (Matt. xii. 41) reproaches the Jews of His own day with being less open to impression than the Ninevites.

6 the king of Nineveh. It is not as yet ascertained who this king was. Possibly Shalmaneser II: see Chronological Table in Sayce’s Assyria.

7 let them not feed, nor drink water. The Easterns, when fasting, abstain from all food until the evening: see 2 Sam. i. 12.

8 let them turn every one from his evil way. If outward acts of humiliation are to be acceptable to God, they must be accompanied with the putting away of cherished sin.

9. Who can tell if God will turn and repent? Rather, as R.V., “Who knoweth whether God will not turn and repent?” Cp. Joel ii. 14.

10. God repented, etc. See note on Gen. vi. 6.