Matthew Poole and continuators on Jonah 3:5

5 ¶ So the people of Nineveh believed God , and proclaimed a fast , and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them even to the least of them .

And Heb.

The inhabitants who heard, they first believed who first heard, and successively others as soon as they heard.

Speaking by his Prophet, they knew their own sins.

Though Ionah were a stranger to them yet because coming in Gods name, he did very particularly, fully, and to the Life enumerate, decipher, and lay open their sins, with what they deserved, what might be expected, what God threatned from Heaven, all which concurring wrought them to believe their danger, Gods mercy, and the possibility of escape if they repent, whether the same of Ionah's deliverance came to Nineveh before him, appears not, nor is it likely it should come so far and so fast though 'twere known on the Syrian Coast, and about Tyre and Zidon, possibly Ionah might publish it in Nineveh.

Every one called upon other to fast, or cry'd out 'twas high time to fast, repent, and supplicate God, so some think, but this passage is an Anticipation, tells us what was done, and will tell us afterwards on what grounds, authority and example 'twas done.

A ceremony very usual in mournings private or publick in those Countreys, and a token of their true mourning, this all did, great and small, rich and poor.

Marginal references: Matth. 12.41. Luk. 11.32.