Albert Barnes Commentary Jonah 3:2

"Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee." — Jonah 3:2 (ASV)

Arise, go to Nineveh that great city, and preach (or cry) unto it - God says to Jonah the very same words which He had said before; only perhaps He gives him an intimation of His purpose of mercy, because He says no more, “cry against her,” but “cry unto her.” He might “cry against” one doomed to destruction; to “cry unto her,” seems to imply that she had some interest in, and therefore some hope from, this cry. “The preaching that I bid you.” This is the only notice which Jonah relates that God took of his disobedience, because He charged him to obey exactly what He commanded. “He does not say to him, why did you not do what I commanded?” He had rebuked him in deed; He corrected him and did not upbraid him. “The rebuke of that shipwreck and the swallowing by the fish sufficed, so that he who had not felt the Lord commanding, might understand Him delivering.”

Jonah might have seemed unworthy to be inspired again by God. But “whom the Lord loves, He chastens;” whom He chastens, He loves.

“The hard discipline, the severity and length of the scourge, were the pledges of a great trust and a high destination.” He knew him to be changed into another man, and, by one of His most special favors, He gives him that same trust which he had before deserted.

“As Christ, when risen, commended His sheep to Peter, wiser now and more fervent, so to Jonah risen He commends the conversion of Nineveh. For so did Christ risen bring about the conversion of the pagans, by sending His Apostles, each into large provinces, as Jonah was sent alone to a large city.”

“He bids him declare not only the sentence of God, but in the same words; not to consider his own reputation or the ears of his hearers, nor to mingle soothing with severe words, and convey the message ingeniously, but with all freedom and severity to declare openly what was commanded him. This plainness, though, may be less acceptable to people or princes, is often more useful, always more approved by God. Nothing should be more sacred to the preacher of God’s word, than truth and simplicity and inviolable sanctity in delivering it. Now alas, all this is changed into vain show at the will of the multitude and the breath of popular favor.”