> [[jonah-02|← Previous]] | [[jonah-00|TOC]] | [[jonah-04|Next →]] --- # Jonah, Chapter 3 ## Chapter 3 **Jonah’s Obedience and the Ninevites’ Repentance.** 1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: ^jonah-03-1 2 Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you. ^jonah-03-2 3 So Jonah set out for Nineveh, in accord with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an awesomely great city; it took three days to walk through it. ^jonah-03-3 4 Jonah began his journey through the city, and when he had gone only a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be overthrown,” ^jonah-03-4 5 the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. ^jonah-03-5 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. ^jonah-03-6 7 Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh: “By decree of the king and his nobles, no man or beast, no cattle or sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. ^jonah-03-7 8 Man and beast alike must be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; they all must turn from their evil way and from the violence of their hands. ^jonah-03-8 9 Who knows? God may again repent and turn from his blazing wrath, so that we will not perish.” ^jonah-03-9 10 When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out. ^jonah-03-10 \* (3:5) Great and small: the contrast can refer to distinctions of social class (prominent citizens and the poor). \* (3:7] – [8) Fasting and wearing sackcloth are signs of human repentance; here they are legislated even for the animals—a humorous touch, perhaps anticipating [4:11]. \* (3:9] – [10) Scripture frequently presents the Lord as repenting (or, changing his mind) of the evil that he threatens; e.g., [Gn 6:6] – [7]; [Jer 18:8]. a. (3:5) ([[matthew-12|Mt 12]]:41]; ([[luke-11|Lk 11]]:32]. b. (3:9) [Jl 2:14]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[jonah-02|← Previous]] | [[jonah-00|TOC]] | [[jonah-04|Next →]]