3:10
And God saw their works, that they were turned form their evil way: and God had
mercy with regard to the evil which he had said that he would do to them, and
he did it not.
the evil—affliction.
And God saw: just
as for the Ninivites, every day God threatens destruction to the whole world,
in order that they may do penance. If they convert, then the Lord will change
His sentence, and it will be changed by the conversion of the people.
But God did not hear those words
that Israel often promised: “so declare unto us, and we will do it (Jer
42:40),” but he sees the works. And because He prefers a sinner’s repentance
rather than his death (Ez 33:11) He willingly changes His sentence because He
has seen a change in the works. Or rather God has continued in His plan, since
He originally wanted to have pity. No one in fact who desires to punish,
threatens what he will actually do. (The Glossa Ordinaria on the Prophet
Jonah: An English Translation [trans. John Litteral; Consolamini Commentary
Series; West Monroe, La.: Consolamini Publications, 2015], 20-21)
