Jonah 3:2

that great city Calvin explains this repeated mention of the greatness of Nineveh (comp. Jonah 1:2), as intended to prepare Jonah for the magnitude of the task before him, lest when he came face to face with it he should be appalled and draw back. But perhaps the true key is to be found in Jonah 4:11, where the same expression "the great city" occurs as an argument for God's compassion. It is on no mean errand of mercy, not to save a few only from destruction, that I bid you go.

preach unto it the preaching Lit., cry to it the crying. The word is rendered cry, Jonah 1:2.