Jon 3:4 | TNotes | STEP | 3:4 Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed! Jonah’s message apparently did not include a contingency clause—e.g., “But if you repent, God will not destroy you” (note the king’s uncertainty in 3:9 ). Jonah knew, however, of God’s desire for people to repent rather than be destroyed (3:10 ; 4:2 ).

‏ Jonah 3:4

3:4 ^a Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed! Jonah’s message apparently did not include a contingency clause—e.g., “But if you repent, God will not destroy you” (note the king’s uncertainty in 3:9 ^b). Jonah knew, however, of God’s desire for people to repent rather than be destroyed (3:10 ^c; 4:2 ^d).