John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. And he caused [it] to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh , etc.] By a herald or heralds, sent into the several parts of the city: by the decree of the king and his nobles ; with whom he consulted, and whose advice he took; and who were equally concerned at this news, and very probably were present when word was brought to the king concerning it: saying, let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything ; a very strict and general fast this: abstinence from all food was enjoined; not only men of every rank and age, but the cattle likewise, horses and camels, they used either for their pleasure or business; their oxen, cows, and calves, of their herd; their sheep, goats, lambs, and kids, of their flocks: let them not feed, nor drink water ; no food were to be put into their mangers or folds: nor were they to be suffered to graze in their pastures, or to be allowed the least quantity of food or drink; this was ordered, to make the mourning the greater; thus Virgil f68 describes the mourning for the death of Caesar by the oxen not coming to the rivers to drink, nor touching the grass of the field; and to afflict their minds the more, and for their greater mortification, since these creatures were for their use and pleasure, Fasting was used by the Heathens; as well as the Jews, in some cases; particularly the Egyptians, as Herodotus f69 bserves, from whom the Assyrians might take it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-10 - There was a wonder of Divine grace in the repentance and reformation of Nineveh. It condemns the men of the gospel generation, Mt 12:41. A very small degree of light may convince men that humbling themselves befor God, confessing their sins with prayer, and turning from sin, are mean of escaping wrath and obtaining mercy. The people followed the exampl of the king. It became a national act, and it was necessary it shoul be so, when it was to prevent a national ruin. Let even the brut creatures' cries and moans for want of food remind their owners to cr to God. In prayer we must cry mightily, with fixedness of thought firmness of faith, and devout affections. It concerns us in prayer to stir up all that is within us. It is not enough to fast for sin, but we must fast from sin; and, in order to the success of our prayers, we must no more regard iniquity in our hearts, Ps 66:18. The work of fast-day is not done with the day. The Ninevites hoped that God woul turn from his fierce anger; and that thus their ruin would be prevented. They could not be so confident of finding mercy upon their repentance, as we may be, who have the death and merits of Christ, to which we may trust for pardon upon repentance. They dared not presume but they did not despair. Hope of mercy is the great encouragement to repentance and reformation. Let us boldly cast ourselves down at the footstool of free grace, and God will look upon us with compassion. God sees who turn from their evil ways, and who do not. Thus he spare Nineveh. We read of no sacrifices offered to God to make atonement for sin; but a broken and a contrite heart, such as the Ninevites then had he will not despise _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ויזעק2199 ויאמר559 בנינוה5210 מטעם2940 המלך4428 וגדליו1419 לאמר559 האדם120 והבהמה929 הבקר1241 והצאן6629 אל408 יטעמו2938 מאומה3972 אל408 ירעו7462 ומים4325 אל408 ישׁתו׃8354
