A commentary upon the whole Old Testament, added to that of the same author upon the whole New Testament published many years before, to make a compleat work upon the whole Bible. Vols. 2-4. Wherein the divers translations and expositions, literall and mysticall, of all the most famous commentators both ancient and modern are propounded, examined, and judged of, for the more full satisfaction of the studious reader in all things, and many most genuine notions inserted for edification in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. A work, the like unto which hath never yet been published by any man, yet very necessary, nor only for students in divinity; but also for every Christian that loveth the knowledge of divine things, or humane, whereof this comment is also full. Consisting of IV parts. I Upon the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. II Upon the historical part, from Joshua to Esther. III Upon Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomons Song. IV Upon all the prophets both great and small. By John Mayer, doctor of divinity.

CHAP. III.

HERE Jonah being bidden the second time, went and denounced de∣struction * 1.1 to Nineveh, the news whereof coming to the King, he went from his throne, layed away his robes, put on sackcloth and sate in ashes, * 1.2 making proclamation by the advice of his Nobles, that neither man nor beast should eat or drink, but put on sackcloth and cry mightily to God and turn from their evill wayes, which they doing, God repented of the evil threatned, and did it not.

The Septuagint here for 40 dayes have 3 dayes and Nineveh shall be de∣stroyed, but it is manifestly an errour in the Scribe, and can no way be excu∣sed, so that this plainly evinceth that translation to be corrupted. For the Kings requiring man and beast to fast and to be covered with sackcloth, it may seem strange both because beasts sin not, and it may seem impossible so suddenly to get sackcloth enough to cover all the beasts of Nineveh and men also both great and small. To the first it may be said, that although beasts sin not, yet for mens sins, whose beasts they are, they are punishable together with their masters, and therefore to expresse the greater sorrow they must fast

also, that they might together with them mourne for want of food, the cry being thus made the greater, and God whose creatures all are, hearing this great cry might be the more moved to compassion. For putting on of sackcloth upon beasts, I conceive that not all generally were thus clad, but such as men to set forth their pomp the more, covered commonly with cloth of more worth, and upon which they hanged rich trappers and foot cloths, that as in them they had offended by pride, they might expresse hu∣mility now by taking these rich things off, and putting course sackcloth up∣on them in stead thereof, as the King himself layed away his robes at this time and put on sackcloth and ashes. How long they fasted and did thus, it is not said, but because Jonah was three dayes in proclaiming this, it is probable that where they heard first of it, they thus humbled themselves all that time. But it was not their fasting or crying to God, but turning from their evill wayes, that prevailed for mercy, as is here expresly noted. For the Lords repenting, it hath been spoken of before, Jer. 18. & 1 Sam. 15. so that I shall not need to adde any more here.

Notes

• * 1.1

  V. 1.
• * 1.2

  V. 6. V. 7. V. 8.