יונה, פרק ג׳, פסוק ה׳

The reaction of the people of Nineveh to the news of their impending destruction is swift, absolute, and unprecedented. Upon hearing the prophecy of doom, they do not argue or look the other way. Instead, they instantly embrace complete submission driven by deep belief. This faith is rooted in the word of God and the decree delivered by Jonah. They believe in God Himself, recognizing His power to carry out the destruction and acknowledging that He loves justice and despises wrongdoing, rather than merely placing their trust in the messenger or their king [אברבנאל]. What is truly surprising about their reaction is its immediacy; they accept the warning without demanding a single sign or miracle to verify the prophet's authenticity [מלבי״ם].

Commentators offer different explanations for why the people believe so readily without proof. One perspective suggests that the sailors who had been on the ship with Jonah are present in Nineveh at the time. Their firsthand testimony about the raging storm and how Jonah was thrown into the sea convinces the city's inhabitants to believe the prophecy and change their ways [רד״ק, אברבנאל בשם ר' ישועה]. In contrast, another approach argues that no external proof is necessary. When a prophet warns a nation to abandon violence and follow a moral path, miracles are redundant. The people accept Jonah's message simply because his words are inherently true, good, and honest [אברבנאל].

Immediately after receiving the prophecy, the people declare a day of public gathering and fasting [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They dress in sackcloth—a coarse fabric woven from goat hair—to outwardly express their mourning, submission, and humility [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם]. This is a natural, spontaneous reaction from the masses. They awaken on their own to do whatever is in their power to respond, acting even before any official decree is issued by the king [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

There is a difference of opinion regarding the true depth of this response. Some maintain that Jonah explicitly details the exact sins—particularly their acts of violence—that have brought about the decree of destruction, prompting the people to engage in complete and genuine repentance [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Others, however, argue that Jonah never actually informs them of their specific sins. Consequently, the thought of correcting their bad behavior does not even cross their minds. In this view, their immediate adoption of fasting and sackcloth is driven purely by fear and a desire to submit in prayer, rather than a profound internal recognition of their own wrongdoing [מלבי״ם].