translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: JON

label: NET study note

text: The commands of 1:2 are repeated here. See the note there on the combination of “arise” and “go.”


text: The people of Nineveh believed in God… . Verse 5 provides a summary of the response in Nineveh; the people of all ranks believed and gave evidence of contrition by fasting and wearing sackcloth ( 2 Sam 12:16, 19-23 ; 1 Kgs 21:27-29 ; Neh 9:1-2 ). Then vv. 6-9 provide specific details, focusing on the king’s reaction. The Ninevites’ response parallels the response of the pagan sailors in 1:6 and 13-16 .


text: The king expresses his uncertainty whether Jonah’s message constituted a conditional announcement or an unconditional decree. emphasizes that God sometimes gives people an opportunity to repent when they hear an announcement of judgment. However, as Amos and Isaiah learned, if a people refused to repent over a period of time, the patience of God could be exhausted. The offer of repentance in a conditional announcement of judgment can be withdrawn and in its place an unconditional decree of judgment issued. In many cases it is difficult to determine on the front end whether or not a prophetic message of coming judgment is conditional or unconditional, thus explaining the king’s uncertainty.