Chapter 22—“Nineveh, That Great City”
Among the cities of the ancient world in the days of divided Israel
one of the greatest was Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian realm.
Founded on the fertile bank of the Tigris, soon after the dispersion
from the tower of Babel, it had flourished through the centuries until it
had become “an exceeding great city of three days’ journey.”
Jonah
3:3
.
In the time of its temporal prosperity Nineveh was a center of crime
and wickedness. Inspiration has characterized it as “the bloody city,
... full of lies and robbery.” In figurative language the prophet Nahum
compared the Ninevites to a cruel, ravenous lion. “Upon whom,” he
inquired, “hath not thy wickedness passed continually?”
Nahum 3:1,
19
.
Yet Nineveh, wicked though it had become, was not wholly given
over to evil. He who “beholdeth all the sons of men” (
Psalm 33:13
)
and “seeth every precious thing” (
Job 28:10
) perceived in that city
many who were reaching out after something better and higher, and
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who, if granted opportunity to learn of the living God, would put away
their evil deeds and worship Him. And so in His wisdom God revealed
Himself to them in an unmistakable manner, to lead them, if possible,
to repentance.
The instrument chosen for this work was the prophet Jonah, the
son of Amittai. To him came the word of the Lord, “Arise, go to
Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is
come up before Me.”
Jonah 1:1, 2
.
As the prophet thought of the difficulties and seeming impossibil-
ities of this commission, he was tempted to question the wisdom of
the call. From a human viewpoint it seemed as if nothing could be
gained by proclaiming such a message in that proud city. He forgot
for the moment that the God whom he served was all-wise and all-
powerful. While he hesitated, still doubting, Satan overwhelmed him
with discouragement. The prophet was seized with a great dread, and
he “rose up to flee unto Tarshish.” Going to Joppa, and finding there a
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