Bible Commentaries
Jonah 3

Verses 1-3

Jon 3:1-3

GOD’S MESSENGER RUNNING WITH GOD—
THE COMMISSION RENEWED

TEXT: Jonah 3:1-3

God gives Jonah another chance to surrender to His will for the prophet’s life. Jonah obeys.

Jonah 3:1 . . . THE WORD OF JEHOVAH CAME UNTO JONAH THE SECOND TIME . . . Jonah has had a conversion experience! He has been raised to a new life. Physically he had come to the point of no return—except by the power of God he had returned! Spiritually he had died to himself and was raised a new spiritual man. John Noble, the American who spent over ten years in Russian prison camps relates a similar conversion experience in his book, “I Found God In Soviet Russia.”

Mr. Noble, when first imprisoned, was forced to go nine days without even the slightest morsel of food. Here is what he says: “With my last strength, I struggled onto my knees and earnestly asked the Lord simply to close my eyes this night and release me from my mortal suffering. I said, in effect, ‘Dear Lord, I give up; I can’t go on any longer. I have no way out but through Thee. Lord, close my eyes and take me to Thee, or if it be Thy will that I must go on, give me the strength to do so, and lend me Thy hand to guide me. My will is broken, Thy will be done. Amen.’ I committed my soul entirely to the hands of the Lord. Unworthy of His grace though I was, I felt prepared to die. This time, I had not prayed that my will be done but that the Lord’s will be done. I was completely submissive to that will . . . By committing my life to Christ without reservation, I had the amazing experience of being born again of the Spirit . . . It was the most wonderful, miraculous sensation I have ever experienced.”

This is somewhat the same experience Jonah describes himself feeling in the belly of the great fish when he had no other place to turn than God. After his experience in the sea, he probably preached like one raised from the dead. Macaulay characterized Demosthenes’ oratory as “reason made red hot by passion.” Jonah’s was “the Word of God made red hot by conversion of the orator,” The prophet had died, as it were, and been brought back to life again. It always requires an experience like Jonah’s to make a good preacher!

So God called Jonah again to go to Nineveh. God would not suspend His concern for the souls of that great city just because one of His prophets disobeyed. Furthermore God’s mercy and love is long-suffering toward the wayward prophet. God is rich in mercy—the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering . . . leads to repentance (Romans 2:4) if we will but respond.

Zerr: Jonah 3:1. Having "learned his lesson” and been restored to the land, Jonah was ready to receive renewed instructions from the Lord; accordingly the divine word came to him the second time. There is no mention in the text of the event just closed, and as far as the record is concerned the Lord delivered his command just as if nothing had happened to the prophet.

Jonah 3:2 . . . PREACH UNTO IT THE PREACHING THAT I BID THEE . . . What was the preaching that God bade Jonah preach? At the first command God told the prophet to “preach against” that wicked city. His task was to preach against wickedness. Then we learn from Jonah 3:4 that he cried, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” All this, of course, was to the end that the people would repent. This message of repentance still needs to be preached today. Jesus referred to Jonah’s preaching comparing it to His message, for His message was, “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” Peter on the day of Pentecost preached, “Repent and be immersed, everyone of you . . .” Paul, to the philosophers of Athens preached, “. . . now he commandeth all men everywhere to repent . . .” The reason these men preached repentance was they “preached . . . the preaching” that God bade them preach. This is still good advice for all preachers: preach only that which God commands. Preach His Word, from His Book. We live in an age in which society tends to dictate to the preacher, and social pressures and modern theological trends seek to obscure the propositional revelation of God, His Word, the Bible. Peter wrote, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). Men who do not declare from the pulpit, “Thus saith the Lord,” are not fit to stand in that sacred spot.

Zerr: Jonah 3:2. We are given the added detail that Jonah was to say whatever was stated to him when he arrived in the city of Nineveh. The report does not show any objections to his preaching hence we must conclude that the declaration Jonah made was what the Lord had bidden him to deliver.

Jonah 3:3 SO JONAH . . . WENT UNTO NINEVEH . . . AN EXCEEDING GREAT CITY, OF THREE DAYS’ JOURNEY . . . This time Jonah went “according to the word of the Lord.” There is no running away this time. There is not even any reluctance. He has learned his lesson . . . he has a new heart in the matter . . . he is a new man for God.

Zerr: Jonah 3:3. This time Jonah went in the direction of his duty according to the word of the Lord. Three days’ journey might have referred to the distance round the city or across it either, as far as the expression of the text goes. But the rule of consistency indicates that the latter is meant, for the same days’ journey is used in the next verse in connection with Jonah’s entry into the city and across it. As to what a day’s journey is would depend upon the means of journeying that is being used at a given time. Journey is from mahalak which Strong defines, “A walk, i.e. a passage or a distance.” It is the word for "walk” in Ezekiel 42:4 where we know it was a place in which men traveled on foot. So the conclusion is that a man would walk across the city of Nineveh in three days at the ordinary speed of such a mode of travel.

Because archeologists have not yet found evidence that Nineveh is as extensive a city as three days journey would seem to indicate, some scholars have accused this book of being historically inaccurate. But must we assume that we know all there is to know about the metropolis of Nineveh and pronounce the book of Jonah irrevocably inaccurate?! There are a number of possible answers to this alleged problem; (a) the statement could refer to the circumference of the city; (b) the statement could mean that journeying leisurely, stopping to preach at likely spots, it would take three days to journey the length or breadth of the city; (c) or, more likely, it could mean that a journey across “greater” Nineveh, including its “suburbs” (of which we spoke on Jonah 1:2), would take three days. The city was “great,” not because it impressed God by its size or fame, but because God was concerned with the “many” souls in it which were lost and because it would be an almost overwhelming task, in the eyes of Jonah, to preach against it.

Questions

1. How had Jonah changed? What experience had he undergone?

2. Why did God not cast Jonah off after one disobedience?

3. What did God bid Jonah preach? Is there a lesson for us in that?

4. Is the note about a city of “three day’s journey” inaccurate?

Verses 1-4

Jon 3:1-4

Jonah obeys God and preaches to Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-4)

“And the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee” (Jonah 3:1-2).

The “word of Jehovah” came to Jonah the first time at chapter 1:1. God told Jonah to preach repentance of sins yet the prophet disobeyed and consequently suffered in the sea by boat and fish. The Lord now commands Jonah once again, “the second time” to go to Nineveh and preach His words unto it. It seems interesting to me that God’s purpose for Nineveh did not change even though the prophet would have it his own way. God’s purpose was to save the people of Nineveh. After Jonah’s blunders the Lord continued to desire that the city of Nineveh have a prophet sent to them. You and I may desire change in God yet he remains a constant in this life. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Again, the author of Hebrews said, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). I may be foolish in this life and have “regard lying vanities” (cf. Jonah 2:8) yet God’s purpose for all humanity remains constant. What this helps man to see is that other people have no power over God’s purpose to save souls. The only way a false teacher, fleshly wisdom, or world desires can cause me to loose my soul is if I let them. God’s promises; however, will always stand.

“So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh according to the word of Jehovah. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city, of three days journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:3-4).

Rather than disobeying God a second time the prophet now gives heed to the Lord’s will. The Lord has answered the prophet’s prayers and gave him help in his time of great need. God now has a request for the prophet, “go, and preach to Nineveh.” Often times you and I want blessings from God such as forgiveness, ease of emotional and financial duress, food, shelter, and travel modes; however, when it comes to fulfilling God’s desires for us we are lax. We often expect God to bless us yet sometimes are not willing to give back to the Lord our complete obedience to His will. Jonah learned this lesson through the boat and fish incident. He now obeys. What about you and I? We ought to pray for God’s patience and mercy in these areas. Sometimes it takes longer for some to learn these lessons in life. Where ever the fish vomited Jonah out it was a three day journey from Nineveh. Upon arrival, Jonah began to preach that the people must change their evil practices else the city shall be overthrown. God gives the people of Nineveh forty days until His judgment shall pass upon them.

Verse 4

Jon 3:4

GOD’S MESSENGER RUNNING WITH GOD—
THE CRY FOR REPENTANCE

TEXT: Jonah 3:4

Jonah begins his “doom song” to Nineveh.

Jonah 3:4 . . . HE CRIED . . . YET FORTY DAYS, AND NINEVEH SHALL BE OVERTHROWN. Jonah did not go into the city one full days’ journey and then begin to preach. The text definitely indicates that he started on his first days’ journey and then sometime during that beginning of the journey he began to preach. The word “overthrown” is from the Hebrew word which means literally, “destroyed from the very foundations,” and is the same word used in speaking of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Zerr: Jonah 3:4. Jonah waited until he got to the more thickly populated portion of the city before be began his preaching. The only thing he said according to the text was the announcement that the city would be destroyed in forty days. Verse 2 says he was to preach what the Lord told him and all the reports of the event indicate that he was faithful to his commission. Nothing said about why it was to be destroyed, and we know that no specific proviso such as repentance was stated by which the city could avoid destruction. We get this from the announcement of the king who had commanded his people to perform acts of penitence, and then expressed the hope that God would be thereby induced to change the decree of destruction. Had the condition of reformation been stated In connection with the threat made by Jonah, there would have been no occasion for the "wishful thinking” of the king.

Lange says of the forty days: “Forty days are here a round number, meaning after a short time, whose term Jonah measures by the period of the deluge.” K & D say: “The respite granted is fixed at forty days, according to the number which, even as early as the flood, was taken as the measure for determining the delaying of visitation of God.” What purpose God had in assigning exactly 40 days to Nineveh’s period of probation it is idle to speculate. He most certainly would extend His grace long enough for all to hear the message and make response, but His grace would not be extended forever. Furthermore, Nineveh’s cup of sin was running over—God’s cup of wrath was filled to the brim and about to overflow. Nineveh had had many opportunities to know and repent and now their judgment was fixed and announced—if repentance did not come with haste, the sentence would be executed.

Questions

1. How far did Jonah go into the city before he began to preach?

2. Why did God assign the time of 40 days for repentance?

Verses 5-10

Jon 3:5-10

Nineveh’s Response to Jonah’s Preaching (Jonah 3:5-10)

“And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. And the tidings reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes” (Jonah 3:5-6).

The apostle Paul said that “faith comes of hearing the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The people of Nineveh were not casual listeners they evidence the faith and repentance for their wicked deeds by putting on sackcloth and sitting in ashes (outward acts that illustrated a heart of shame and sadness over one’s sins). Not only did all the people from the “greatest to least” in the city but also the king himself sat in ashes and clothed his self with sackcloth. The people of Nineveh fulfilled God’s requirements for those who would be recognized as His. That is, they illustrated a heart of humility by expressing sorrow over their sins (cf. Isaiah 57:15). Said disposition was not a part of the scribes and Pharisees heart during Jesus’ day. Jesus referred to them as evil and then said, “the men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here” (Matthew 12:41). The men of Nineveh displayed a true desire to do God’s will and thereby “cried” (cf. Jonah 3:8) (called [invoked or appeal to for help]) unto the name of Jehovah God for his mercy in relation to God’s warning of destruction in forty days.

“And he made proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, heard nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water; but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and beast, and let them cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands” (Jonah 3:7-8).

The king of Nineveh is so convicted by the preaching of Jonah that he decrees a city wide time of mourning, fasting, and prayer due to the people’s wickedness. Preaching that comes from God’s word has great affects on the heart of those who see the reality of eternity (cf. Hebrews 4:12). The record of Jonah now tells us Nineveh’s problem that God was displeased with. The people of Nineveh practiced, “evil ways and violence.” The standard of God’s word measured the people and they were found to be in error. The question we have in our minds is, “what caused a Gentile city to allow themselves to be measured by God’s standard?” Did they hear of the great fish story? Did Jonah perform some miracle as Philip in Samaria (cf. Acts 8:5)? We are not told; however, what we do know is that the prophet preached the word of God to them and they saw the need for a change.

“Who knows whether God will not turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil which he said he would do unto them; and he did not” (Jonah 3:9-10).

Once again we find a people who do not wish to “perish.” Recall that the men on the ship, at chapter one, did not desire to “perish” (cf. Jonah 1:5-6). Evidently the people of Nineveh were familiar with the power of Jehovah God and did not desire to have His anger kindled against them. The common interest of all men is the breath of life. When the disciples were on the tumultuous Sea of Galilee they cried out to Jesus, “Save, Lord; we perish” (cf. Matthew 8:23-27). The key to successful preaching of the gospel (i.e., having people believe and baptized for the remission of sins / converted to truth) is to depict their present lifestyles and decisions as a matter of life and death.

People want to live and that forever. To sin is to die forever (cf. Romans 6:23). Nineveh changed because they wanted to live. Many of those of Israel and Judah died because of their lack of displaying a will to live. Jesus said that many in the future will so die as well (Matthew 12:38-41). Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish” (Luke 13:3). God saw their “works” and then changed His purpose of destroying the city. “Works” are important in gaining God’s favor. Jonah’s earlier works did not illustrate a love and mercy for the lives of his fellow man. Please note that God’s changing his mind regarding the destruction of Nineveh does not violate the eternal and constant principle of God’s unchanging word. Truth is designed to save not destroy. The standard of truth has always been reward for the faithful and condemnation for the wicked. Paul said that God thereby justifiably justifies the unjust (cf. Romans 3:5-6; Romans 4:5-8). The people of Nineveh had (past tense) works of unrighteousness; however, they now have (present tense) a heart of humility and repentance. God certainly justifies such people (cf. Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:1-3) who evidence their faith by their works (Hebrews 11:1 ff; James 2:14 ff).

Bible Questions for Jonah Chapter Three

Jonah 3:1 What do you learn?

Jonah 3:2 What must Jonah do?

Jonah 3:3 What did Jonah do? Why? What do you learn about Nineveh?

Jonah 3:4 What did Jonah do? What did he say to the people?

Jonah 3:5 What did the people of Nineveh do? How did the people show that they believed God’s message? Who did these things?

Jonah 3:6 What was the king of Nineveh’s first reaction to Jonah’s message? How did he show that he understood the message?

Jonah 3:7 What did the king declare to the people of Nineveh?

Jonah 3:8 Name four (or more) things that the king of Nineveh commanded everybody to do?

Jonah 3:9 What did the king of Nineveh think that God might do?

Jonah 3:10 What do you learn about the people? What did God do? What does that teach you about God?