And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
The king made an official announcement that went out across the entire city of Nineveh. He and his officials declared: 'Nobody eats anything, not people, not animals, not livestock, nothing. No food, no water, complete fast.'
When you're truly sorry, sometimes you go all in, even the animals joined the city-wide apology to God.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Jonah, the prophet is sent by God to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, to warn its inhabitants of impending judgment due to their widespread wickedness. The king responds to Jonah's message by issuing a decree for a complete fast, including people and animals, as a dramatic expression of the city's repentance and plea for mercy. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern culture where communal fasting was a common way to demonstrate humility and seek divine favor.
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