Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
to Nineveh—east of the Tigris, opposite the modern Mosul. The only case of a prophet being sent to the heathen. Jonah, however, is sent to Nineveh, not solely for Nineveh's good, but also to shame Israel, by the fact of a heathen city repenting at the first preaching of a single stranger, Jonah, whereas God's people will not repent, though preached to by their many national prophets, late and early. Nineveh means "the residence of Ninus," that is, Nimrod. Genesis 10:11, where the translation ought to be, "He (Nimrod) went forth into Assyria and builded Nineveh." Modern research into the cuneiform inscriptions confirms the Scripture account that Babylon was founded earlier than Nineveh, and that both cities were built by descendants of Ham, encroaching on the territory assigned to Shem (Genesis 10:5-6, Genesis 10:8, Genesis 10:10, Genesis 10:25).
great city—four hundred eighty stadia in circumference, one hundred fifty in length, and ninety in breadth [DIODORUS SICULUS, 2.3]. Taken by Arbaces the Mede, in the reign of Sardanapalus, about the seventh year of Uzziah; and a second time by Nabopolassar of Babylon and Cyaxares the Mede in 625 BC See on Jonah 3:3.
cry— (Isaiah 40:6; Isaiah 58:1).
come up before me— (Genesis 4:10; Genesis 6:13; Genesis 18:21; Ezra 9:6; Revelation 18:5); that is, their wickedness is so great as to require My open interposition for punishment.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Jonah 1:2:
Jeremiah 51:9
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