Introduction
After the famous incident of the whale, a much chastened Jonah agreed to fulfil his commission and go to Nineveh in Assyria. His task was to upbraid the people for their wickedness and prophesy certain destruction, but he suspected that God would not actually do it, and harboured regrets for the effect this would have on his reputation.
WHEN God commissioned Jonah to go to Nineveh and foretell that in forty days doom and destruction would fall upon the wicked city, the prophet fled.* He guessed that Nineveh would repent, God would cancel the fireworks, and then he would look like a religious crank. But after enduring a freak storm and three days and nights in the belly of a whale, Jonah no longer shirked his duty.
When the forty days were past, Jonah turned to God and complained bitterly that this was exactly what he had expected. The people, thoroughly abashed, had fasted throughout, and kind-hearted God had not inflicted the promised catastrophe. Was he angry? God inquired mildly. Yes, said Jonah frankly, angry to death. And he went grumpily out to sit on a hillside, still hoping to see his prophecies come true.
The day grew hot. Overlooking the prophet’s ill temper, God caused a gourd to grow up with astonishing speed to shade him. Jonah was very much attached to that gourd; but the following morning it suddenly withered and died.
See Jonah and the Whale.