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Study :: Bible Study Notes :: ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Jonah 3

ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Jonah 3

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References for Jon 3:10 —  1   2   3 

3:1–3a Jonah’s Recommissioning and Compliance. The fourth episode parallels 1:1–3 and focuses on the question, “What will happen to the Ninevites?” (see note on 1:1–3).

Jonah 3:1–2 The second time underscores God’s determination to get his message to the Ninevites and to use Jonah to take it to them.

Jonah 3:3b–10 Jonah and the Pagan Ninevites. The fifth episode parallels the second (1:4–16) and focuses on how the pagan Ninevites, just like the pagan sailors, respond to God’s word. The structure follows the pattern of repentance found elsewhere in the OT: (1) message of divine judgment (3:3a–5); (2) account of human repenting (vv. 6–9); and (3) record of divine relenting (v. 10). Compare 1 Sam. 7:3–14; Joel 1–2.

Jonah 3:3b an exceedingly great city (see 1:2; 3:2; compare esv footnote, “a great city to God”). Nineveh is important to God and will receive his great compassion. three days’ journey in breadth. The phrase may refer to the time it would take Jonah to walk across the city, preaching his message.

Jonah 3:4 Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown! Although the warning sounds like a promise, a condition was implied. If the people repent, God will relent (see v. 9; 4:2).

Jonah 3:6 The word that reached the king of Nineveh was the “word” of the Lord (see 1:1; 3:1; 3). The “king of Nineveh” was probably not the king of Assyria, since Nineveh was not an Assyrian capital in Jonah’s day.

Jonah 3:7–8 issued a proclamation. It is likely that v. 5 and vv. 6–9 are in topical rather than chronological order. By putting the people’s response ahead of the king’s order, the author underscores that they are responding to Jonah’s message, not just to the king’s command. The Ninevites each turn from his evil way, whereas the Israelites did not (see 2 Kings 17:13–14).

Jonah 3:9 Who knows? expresses hope that God may turn and relent. The phrase we may not perish marks the third time a pagan has been concerned that people not perish (compare 1:14 and note on 1:6).

Jonah 3:10 turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster. “Evil” and “disaster” translate the same Hebrew word (see note on 1:2). The repetition of the same word shows the close connection between human action and divine response. God did not carry out the threatened disaster, because the Ninevites repented of their evil (see note on 3:4).

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