As king and nobles, with the common people, the high and the low," "repented at the preaching of Jonas" (Matthew 12:41) and united in crying to the God of heaven, His 271 mercy was granted them. He "saw their words, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not." Jonah 3:10. Their doom was averted, the God of Israel was exalted and honored throughout the heathen world, and His law was revered. Not until many years later was Nineveh to fall a prey to the surrounding nations through forgetfulness of God and through boastful pride. [For an account of the downfall of Assyria, see chapter 30.]

Da kongen og stormændene tillige med folket, både høj og lav, "omvendte sig ved Jonas prædiken" (Matt. 12,41) og sammen råbte til Himmelens Gud, skænkede han dem sin nåde. "Da Gud så, hvad de gjorde, hvorledes de omvendte sig fra deres onde vej, angrede han den ulykke, han havde truet med at føre over dem, og gjorde ikke alvor deraf." Jonas. 3,10. De undgik deres skæbne, Israels Gud blev ophøjet og æret i hele hedningeverdenen, og hans lov kom til højhed og ære. Nineve faldt først som et bytte for nabofolkene mange år senere, fordi den glemte Gud og hovmodede sig.