Tyndale Open Study NotesJonah 3

The second part of the book begins in the same way as the first part (see Jonah 1:1–2).

God commands Jonah again to preach to Nineveh. This time, Jonah obeys. Ironically, the city repents, just as Jonah feared, and he becomes angry with God.

• an exceedingly great city, requiring a three-day journey: God wanted to save this vast city, full of people and resources (Jonah 4:11). Jonah opposed God's desire (see Jonah 4:2, 10–11).

• The city was about 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) in distance around it. It would not have taken three days to walk around the city itself. This description likely refers to the time Jonah needed to travel through the city and share his message. It may also include nearby villages along with the main city.

Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!: Jonah's message did not seem to include a condition, such as "But if you repent, God will not destroy you" (note the king’s uncertainty in Jonah 3:9). However, Jonah knew God wanted people to repent instead of being destroyed (Jonah 3:10; 4:2).

• For the second time in this short book, non-believers respond positively to the Lord (compare Jonah 1:16).

• In ancient Israel, people often fasted during prayer and repentance in difficult times (see 2 Samuel 1:12; Nehemiah 1:4). Wearing burlap and sitting on ashes often showed mourning and deep repentance (see Genesis 37:34; Job 16:15; Lamentations 2:10). The Assyrians had similar customs. These actions allowed people to show their grief in a visible way for everyone, including God, to see.

• The repentance of the Ninevites criticized the stubbornness of people in the time of Jesus (Matthew 12:41).

The king of Nineveh may have been a local ruler who governed the city. It is also possible that he was the king of Assyria, who at times used Nineveh as a center of royal rule (compare 2 Kings 19:9–13).

By including animals in fasting and mourning rituals, the king showed the seriousness of the situation. He wanted everyone to stop normal activities to pray and change their bad behavior. Violence was the main problem in their society.

He relented: If the people of Nineveh had not repented, God would have destroyed them (Jonah 3:4). But God was ready to show mercy when they repented (see Jonah 4:2, 11). In God's view, this change did not reverse his original plan, because he always considered the possibility of mercy. This change does not affect God's ability to know the future.

Historically, the church has believed that God fully knows the future (see Psalm 139:4; Isaiah 46:10; Daniel 2:28–29; Matthew 24:36). Nothing in this account contradicts that belief.