After the fish spit Jonah up on the beach, God spoke to him about going to that great city, Ninevah, and this time Jonah obeyed. Verse 3 tells us the city was so large it took three days to walk through it.
Beginning in verse 4, Jonah experienced what every preacher or missionary wishes would happen to them. “But the very first day when Jonah entered the city and began to preach, the people repented.” What could have happened in this pagan city to cause such a reaction? Jonah doesn’t appear to have been a great orator or have a magnetic personality. Is it possible the Holy Spirit could have been working in the hearts of the people already? What happened we would call a Great Awakening today.
Who was the king of Assyria at the time of Jonah’s visit? Here are the possibilities:
- Adadnirari III, king 811-783 BCE;
- His son Shalmaneser IV, 783-773 BCE;
- Ashur-dan III, 773-755 BCE;
- Ashur-nirari V, 755-745 BCE;
- Tiglath-Pileser III, 745-727 BCE;
- Shalmaneser V, 727-722 BCE.
Based on Jonah’s probable timeline, the king in chapter 3 was probably Shalmaneser IV or Ashur-dan III.
Which king was in power when Jonah arrived is not important, but both kings reigned in a period of decline according to historical records. (See Wikipedia for more information). Evidently during this time other political leaders arose in the kingdom, and they also made laws that were enforced by them. That may have led to the crime and chaos described in verses 6-9.
It is amazing that a pagan nation, even under duress, would humble themselves to a preacher from a foreign God, but over the next 50-60 years, the Israelites never repented with all the great prophets they heard. Even during the three years Samaria was under siege by the Assyrians led by Shalmaneser V, there is no record of repentance. Yes, God sent the Assyrians to conquer and remove the Israelites who still lived in darkness.
According to statistics today, only 3 percent of the people of Israel are believers in Christ. What is our future? Will we be like Israel, unrepentant?