Jonah 3:5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

So the people of Nineveh believed God— The fame of the wonderful works which God had wrought for the Jews, was spread over the eastern parts of the world. This might induce the Ninevites to hearken to a man of that nation, who came to them as sent from God; especially as he, doubtless, gave them an account of the miraculous circumstances which attended his mission. But certainly a sense of their own guilt, and of their deserving whatever punishment heaven could inflict, was a principal reason that moved them to have a regard for his message. Moreover, by the men of Nineveh's repenting at the preaching of Jonah, God designed to upbraid the stubbornness of his own people; and shame them, as it were, into repentance, lest the men of Nineveh should rise up in judgment against them, as our blessed Saviour speaks of the Jews in his time. Houbigant reads the last clause of this verse, From the highest to the lowest of the people, or from the nobles to the commonalty.