§ h 4:1–4 Jonas grudges Nineveh Its Pardon—Jonas would not have attempted to avoid his mission, had he believed that God would actually destroy the city. He was guilty of an unforgiving spirit, a certain national vindictiveness. As he knew God’s mercy, patience and readiness to forgive (cf. Ps 85:5; Jl 2:13), he had foreseen the pardon; but when it actually came, he was so moved by chagrin that he grew tired of life. God’s expostulation meets with no response in the heart of the angry prophet. Subsequent events force him to see reason
