Jonah 4:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

So, when the Lord had taken notice and reproved the passions of Jonah, and made some impression on his mind for the present, Jonah went out of the city; discontented in himself, and doubtful of the issue whether God would be more tender of the life of multitudes or of Jonah's credit, the prophet withdrew himself, and waits; how long we have not any ground of conjecture. And sat; put himself into a posture of waiting, and therefore, to repose himself, rather sat than stood. On the east side of the city; which in likelihood was some higher ground, the city standing on the east banks of Tigris; the further he went east, the higher the ground was, and the safer, from the uncertain manner of the city's overthrow. Made him a booth; some small and mean shed for shade and shelter, usually made of green boughs. And sat under it in the shadow; these boughs, thus pitched and made into a booth, afforded some shadow, in which Jonah reposed him. Till he might see what would become of the city: by this passage it should seem the forty days were not fully expired, nor yet wanted much of expiring, and Jonah seems resolved there to expect the event of the city.