CHAP. III. V. 1-4. It was proper that Jonah should have his commission renewed, before he resumed his office, after his late perverse disobedience; and that he should prove the sincerity of his repentance by performing that service, which before he had declined. He was therefore commanded to go and preach to Nineveh the preaching that God commanded him; and he promptly obeyed without regard to consequences.-Nineveh was so large a city, that it would take a man three days to walk round it, or to go into all the principal streets of it.
When Jonah therefore came thither, and had entered into the city, he made one day's journey about it, proclaiming, as the herald of JEHOVAH, that within forty days Nineveh would be overthrown, by an earthquake, or by some other awful and sudden judgment, such as had befallen Sodom. This respite and warning intimated, that there was a reserved condition of mercy, in case they repented; and probably the proclamation was attended with reproofs of their most notorious sins.
In this progress he met with no interruption; and it is probable that his first day's preaching produced such effects, as rendered it unnecessary for him to proceed any further. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes , 1:2,3.) 'Diodorus Siculus informs 'us, that Nineveh was 480 furlongs in compass, 'which make sixty of our miles.... So that it 'was bigger than Babylon, which, according to 'his account was but forty-eight.' Lowth .
В. С. 840. repent, and turn away from his fierce an- || they turned from their evil way; s and God ger, that we perish not?
10 And God saw their works, that
r1 Kings 21:29. Job 33:27,28. Jer. 31:18-20. Luke 15:20.
V. 5-9. Some think, that Pul was king of Nineveh at this time; but it is probable, that these events occurred before his days. ( Notes , 2 Kings 14:25. 15:19,20.) - There were no outward indications of the overthrow of Nineveh, and Jonah wrought no miracle in confirmation of his prediction prediction: yet the Ninevites believed it to be the word of God, and that it would be verified; probably through a conviction excited in their minds of the greatness of their guilt, and from a recollection of the many wonderful judgments that Israel's God had inflicted on his enemies.
Perhaps they had also heard of the wonderful things, which God had wrought in respect of Jonah. The fame of the won'derful works God had wrought for the Jews 'was spread over the eastern parts of the world. 'This might make the Ninevites hearken to a 'man of that nation, that came to them as sent 'by God. And it is likely that he gave them 'an account of the miraculous circumstances 'which attended his own mission.
But with'out question, a sense of their own guilt, and 'their deserving whatever punishment heaven 'could inflict, was a principal reason that mov'ed them to have regard to his message. And 'by the men of Nineveh's repenting at the 'preaching of Jonas, God designed to upbraid the stubbornness of his own people, and shame 'them, as it were, into repentance, for fear the 'men of Nineveh should rise up in judgment 'against them.' ( Matt . 12:41.) Lowth .
They therefore dreaded the threatened vengeance, yet had some hope of escaping it; and without delay they used every means which they could devise, in order to appease the wrath of God. For when the preaching of Jonah was made known to the king, he was so alarmed, that he laid aside all his ensigns of royalty, put on "sackcloth, and sat in ashes;" and, with the concurrence of his nobles and the approbation of his subjects, he ordered a fast to be pro
repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
s 4:2. Jer. 18:8 Joel 2:13. Am. 7:3,6.
vehement anger being appeased by their submissions, humiliation, and supplications: supplications: at least this was the most probable way of escaping the impending destruction. In all this, something beyond natural conscience, even the special b blessing special blessing of God on his own word, in influencing them to believe it, and to act accordingly, must be acknowledged. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes , 2 Chr . 20:3,4. Ps . 2:10-12. Joel 1:14,15. 2:12-14. Acts 11:18. 14:24-28, υ. 27. Heb . 11:5,6.)
V. 10. We may conclude, that this fast was observed in a very strict and solemn manner, in all parts of Nineveh; that many fervent prayers were presented to the Lord, and his name greatly honored and the idols disparaged; that a general reformation took place, and that many were converted to the true God, and his spiritual worship and service. These things the Lord observed and approved, especially their turning from their evil ways: and therefore "he repented of the evil, that he had said he would do to them." He did not execute his threatened vengeance; his warning having had its intended effect: for it was his secret purpose to manifest his readiness to forgive, to glorify his mercy, to shame the impenitence of Israel, and to give an earnest of the conversion of the Gentiles. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , Job 33:27-30. Jer . 18:7-10. 31:18-20. Matt . 12:41, 42. Luke 15:20-24.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
The sincerity of our repentance must be evinced by obedience, in those particulars especially, about which we have been most rebellious: and the Lord seals the forgiveness of his offending servants, by again employing them in his honorable work. But he will not soften or alter his messages, because of any man's reluctance to deliver them, or to hear them; or because of the numbers or the great
claimed and observed with the greatest strict-ness of those whom they condemn. The fear ness. Not only were the people required to ab- of the power and wrath of God, and the expestain wholly from food; but the very oxen and rience of his mercy, will raise us above the sheep were to be kept from all provender and fear of men: and he can render the most timwater, that their mournful lowings and bleat-orous bold as lions, to proclaim his truths in
ings might add to the solemnity of the awful occasion. All the inhabitants likewise, from the least to the greatest, were commanded to wear sackcloth; nay, the very horses and mules which appeared in the streets were thus covered, instead of wearing their former gaudy trappings; while the inhabitants, as with one voice, united in most earnest prayers to the God of Israel, to have mercy on them, and spare the city: at the same time they were required to repent, and forsake all their sins, but especially their violence, oppression, and injustice. 'Natural religion instructed them that
the midst of his most powerful enemies. We are often needlessly afraid of men in obeying God: for he gives his word a more favorable reception than we expected; and sometimes the heathen will be more attentive than his professed worshippers. It is by faith , that sinners, when warned, are moved by fear , to inquire after deliverance from the wrath to come: ( Note , Heb . 11:7.) a small degree of light may convince men, that fasting, humiliation before God, confession of sin, prayer, and turning away from known iniquity and impiety, are probable means of escaping wrath, and obtain
'their earnest prayers, without true amend- ing , though not of meriting mercy: and kings 'ment, would not avail them before God; nor and nobles cannot do a more essential service 'would their repentance be thought sincere, to the people, than in leading them, by their 'unless they returned to the true owners, what authority and example, to these religious ex'they had gained by violence and injustice.' ercises. But no external mortifications or de Lowth . The proclamation of approaching de-votions can be of any use, if men do not turn struction had not been attended with any ex- from the evil of their ways. Ifidolaters, withpress call to repentance, or promises of mercy: out any express revelation of mercy, or inyet they proceeded upon this general encouragement, from their apprehensions of the good-call of an Israelitish prophet, upon a mere per
ness of the Lord, that they could not tell but he might be induced to remit their punishment; or (speaking after the manner of men) to change his mind and repent of his purpose; his
struction in the truths and will of God, at the adventure we may escape destruction , were thus earnest, fervent, prompt, self-denying, and humble in seeking mercy: how inexcusable will professed Christians be, who, notwithstanding