Jonah 4:1 - Exposition

It displeased Jonah exceedingly; literally, it was evil to Jonah, a great evil. It was more than mere displeasure which he felt; he was vexed and irritated. The reference is to what is said in the last verse of the preceding chapter, viz. that the predicted destruction was not inflicted. How the knowledge of this reprieve was conveyed to the prophet we am not informed. It probably was made known to him before the expiration of the forty days by Divine communication, in accordance with the saying in Amos 3:7 , "Surely the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (see Amos 3:5 ). Various reasons have been assigned for this displeasure.