Jon 3:5-6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Jonah 3:5-6: 3:5-6 For the second time in this short book, pagans respond favorably to the Lord (cp. 1:16 ). • In ancient Israel, fasting would often accompany prayer and repentance in times of distress (see 2 Sam 1:12 ; Neh 1:4 ). Wearing burlap and sitting on a heap of ashes would often accompany mourning and sorrowful repentance (see Gen 37:34 ; Job 16:15 ; Lam 2:10 ). The Assyrians apparently had similar customs. These activities allowed the participants to express their grief in a tangible way for all, including God, to see. • The repentance of the Ninevites was an indictment against the hard-hearted in Jesus’ day (Matt 12:41 ).

a3:5-6►

b1:16►

c2 Sam 1:12►

dNeh 1:4►

eGen 37:34►

fJob 16:15►

gLam 2:10►

hMatt 12:41►

i3:6►

j2 Kgs 19:9-13►

‏ Jonah 3:5-6

Summary for Jonah 3:5-6: 3:5-6 ^a For the second time in this short book, pagans respond favorably to the Lord (cp. 1:16 ^b).

• In ancient Israel, fasting would often accompany prayer and repentance in times of distress (see 2 Sam 1:12 ^c; Neh 1:4 ^d). Wearing burlap and sitting on a heap of ashes would often accompany mourning and sorrowful repentance (see Gen 37:34 ^e; Job 16:15 ^f; Lam 2:10 ^g). The Assyrians apparently had similar customs. These activities allowed the participants to express their grief in a tangible way for all, including God, to see.

• The repentance of the Ninevites was an indictment against the hard-hearted in Jesus’ day (Matt 12:41 ^h).
3:6 ⁱ The king of Nineveh was either an unknown governor of the city or perhaps the king of Assyria, who might have used Nineveh as a regular seat of government (cp. 2 Kgs 19:9-13 ^j).