_And the word of the Lord_, &c. After Jonah had been well chastised for his disobedience, and was set at liberty, as recorded in the preceding chapter, the divine call to him to prophesy was repeated. He had rebelled against God's command the first time, but now, being humbled and better prepared, h... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey_ That is, he proceeded into the city as far as he could go in a day. _And he cried, Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown_ The threat is express; but there was a reserve with God on condition of repentance. And it must be observed, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_So the people of Nineveh believed God_, &c. “The fame,” says Lowth, “of the wonderful 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 th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let neither man nor beast taste any thing_ This was ordered to add the greater solemnity to the humiliation, and that men might be affected by the mournful cries of the cattle under such restraints, and thereby be moved to greater sorrow and contrition. It was, however, carrying their abstinence to... [ Continue Reading ]
_And God saw their works_ He not only heard their good words, by which they professed repentance, but saw their good works, by which they _brought forth fruits meet for repentance._ He saw _that they turned from their evil way_ And that was what he looked for and required. If he had not seen that, t... [ Continue Reading ]