Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Home Page: Quantum Study Bible

Jonah 3

Note: Jonah was in extreme danger to do what the Lord had asked him to do. The Ninevites (an Assyrian people) were known for their veracity.

Jonah Preaches at Nineveh

Jonah 3:1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying,

Jonah 3:² “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”

• If Jonah was thrown overboard on Passover (like Jesus was sacrificed) and if he then spent three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, Leviathan (like Jesus) and if he was puked up (resurrected like Jesus) on the shore of the Gentiles who repented, then it is worth the time to look at events that happened with Jesus three days afterwards and forty days from that:
• We know (ignoring the 3 days Jonah walked through the city) that 40 days from Jesus’ resurrection He then ascended to the Father. In Jonah’s case the city repented. It appears Ninevah became metaphoric for the time of the Gentiles after Jesus’ resurrection.

Jonah 3:³ So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.

Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the sea monster. Then he walked 3 days (and presumably) 3 nights through Nineveh one way, then 3 days and 3 nights back again.

Jonah 3:⁴ And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

• See Topic: Symbolism of the Number 40
  It’s time for a change.

The People of Nineveh Believe

Jonah 3:⁵ So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.

Jonah 3:⁶ Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.

• The king of Nineveh is like Jesus who laid aside his robe in heaven, and covered Himself with the sins of man.

Jonah 3:⁷ And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles (Lit. great ones), saying,

Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water.

Jonah 3:⁸ But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.

Jonah 3:⁹ Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?

Jonah 3:¹⁰ Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.