Matthew Poole and continuators on Jonah 3:7

7 And he caused it to be proclaimed , and published through Nineveh (by the decree of the king and his nobles) saying, Let neither man nor beast , herd nor flock taste any thing , let them not feed, nor drink water:

The King.

Took a particular care to have speedily a Fast ordered, and notified to the people by those publick Officers, who were wont to proclaim the Decrees and Edicts of the King and his Counsel.

This ingemination confirms the thing, and adds somewhat for shewing the deep sense the King had both of his own, and his peoples [illegible: 1 letter]ins danger, and duty in this exigent.

It was an Act of the King and Counsel, and that which passed them with good liking, they relisht the thing as the Hebrew phrase importeth.

Men have sinned and provok't God to this high displeasure it does most principally concern them to repent, fast and mourn for their sins that God may pardon and spare them.

These comprised in the threat and like to be involved in the common danger are put under a fast, this the general which is afterwards exprest more particularly Herd and Flock, let none of these whether at home in the stall or abroad in the Fold and Herd.

This referred by some to the strictness with which men were bound to keep this Fast, but this may be a general prohibition explained by what follows, let all Man and Beast forbear to eat or drink, that the Fast might be most solemn, that the cry of man seconded with the cry of hungry Cattel, might enter the ears of God who preserveth Man and Beast.

Marginal references: Heb. said.; Heb. great men.