John Calvin Commentary Jonah 4:5

"Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city." — Jonah 4:5 (ASV)

One might doubt here whether Jonah had waited until the forty days had passed and that time had arrived. For if we say that he went out of the city before the fortieth day, another question arises: how could he have known what would happen? For we have not yet found that he had been informed by any divine revelation.

But the words we have noticed indicate that it was then known by the event itself that God had spared the city from destruction. For in the last lecture, it was said that God had repented of the evil He had declared and had not done it. It therefore appears that Jonah had not gone out of the city until the forty days had passed.

But then another question arises: what need did he have to sit near the city, since it was evident enough that God’s purpose had changed, or at least that the sentence Jonah had pronounced was changed? He ought not, then, to have seated himself near the city as though he were doubtful.

But I am inclined to adopt the conjecture that Jonah went out after the fortieth day, for the words seem to support it. With regard to the question of why he still doubted the event when time seemed to have proved it, the answer may be readily given: though indeed the forty days had passed, Jonah stood, as it were, perplexed because he could not yet feel assured that what he had before proclaimed according to God’s command would be without its effect.

I therefore do not doubt that Jonah was kept perplexed by this thought: “You have declared nothing rashly; how can it then be that what God wished to be proclaimed by His own command and in His own name should now be in vain, with no corresponding effect?” Since Jonah respected God’s command, he could not immediately extricate himself from his doubts.

This, then, was the reason he sat waiting: it was because he thought that though God’s vengeance was suspended, his preaching would not yet be in vain, and that the ruin of the city was near. This, therefore, was the reason why he still waited after the appointed time, as though the event was still doubtful.

To make this more evident, let us bear in mind that God’s purpose was hidden, so that Jonah did not understand all the parts of his vocation. God, then, when He threatened ruin to the Ninevites, intended to speak conditionally. For what could have been the benefit of the word unless this condition was added—that the Ninevites, if they repented, should be saved?

Otherwise, there would have been no need for a Prophet. The Lord might have executed the judgment the Ninevites deserved if He had not intended to consider their salvation.

If anyone objects, saying that a preacher was sent to render them inexcusable, this would have been unusual. For God had executed all His other judgments without any previous warning (I mean, with regard to pagan nations). It was the unique privilege of the Church that the Prophets always announced the punishments that were near; but to other nations, God made it known that He was their Judge, though He did not send Prophets to warn them.

A condition was therefore included with regard to God’s purpose when He commanded that the Ninevites be terrified by such an explicit declaration. But Jonah was, so to speak, too literal a teacher, for he did not include what he ought to have done—that there was room for repentance and that the city would be saved if the Ninevites repented of their wickedness. Since Jonah had learned only half of his commission, it is no wonder that his mind was still in doubt and he could not feel assured as to the outcome; for he had nothing but the event, as God had not yet made known to him what He would do.