What Was the Sin of Nineveh? (Jonah 1:2)

Question

The Book of Jonah begins with God's call to the famous reluctant prophet:

“Arise, go to Nin′eveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.”

As far as I can tell the nature of this wickedness is not specified in the text. Are there clues? It does state that the reason Jonah fled was because he did not want Nineveh to receive God's mercy. Was their wickedness that they were Israel's enemy, that they worshiped other gods, that they had made an alliance with northern Israel when God favored Southern Judah? Was it that they were sexual sinners like Sodom, that they oppressed widows and orphans, "all of the above," or what? If there are no good clues in the immediate text, what do other biblical references to the city tell us? What do ancient and modern commentators suggest that would help us know what exactly Nineveh repented for?

Answer 1

The text and story of Jonah is very careful not to dwell much on the specific sins of the great city of Nineveh. However, we are given some strong pointers, the best is found in Jonah 3:4

Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands.

Thus, we are told that the greatest sin Nineveh was that of violence, which in turn, is most often a by-product of godlessness, idolatry and perverted, illicit sex as exemplified in Sodom (Gen 19:4, 5).

Violence was not unique to Nineveh, it was (and still is) a very common sin. (Today as then, violence was a source of amusement and entertainment!!) See Gen 6:11, Hab 1:2, 2:17, Jer 6:7, 20:8, Isa 60:18, Ps 11:5, 55:9, 58:2, Eze 7:23, 8:17, 28:16, 45:9, Prov 4:17, Micah 6:12, etc. Allow me to quote a single sample:

Ps 11:5 (NIV) - The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.

Ps 11:5 (CEV) - The LORD tests honest people, but despises those who are cruel and love violence.

This conclusion appears to be confirmed by the prophecy of Nahum in Nah 3 against the great sinfulness of Nineveh:

• V1 - Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without prey.
• V19 - There is no healing for your injury; your wound is severe. All who hear the news of you applaud your downfall, for who has not experienced your constant cruelty?

However, Nineveh was also accused of other sins as well in Nah 3 such as:

• V4 - because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft.

Answer 2

Aside from the references in the other answer by @Dottard, we do get one other hint in scripture.

2 Kings 19 tells of the worship of at least one other god in "Nineveh", which may have been part of the consideration, by mentioning this city was the seat of the "house"/"temple" of "Nisroch":

2 Kings 19:36 (KJV)

So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

2 Kings 19:37 (KJV)

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

It's also noteworthy that this passage depicts son-on-father violence taking place in "Nineveh", though it is presented as a single incident, so taken alone it is not presented as a consistent pattern of violent behavior in that city.

Answer 3

Amongst the many sins of Nineveh was one which is dehumanising. They practised torture on their prisoners.

After defeating you in battle, they take those who are living as slaves and this is what they did to the slaves: take out your eye, cut your ears, eyes, feet, fingernails, fingers, and tongue, and peel your skin. They were known for burning boys and girls alive. They torture others by tearing the skin from their bodies and leaving them to die in the scorching sun and they celebrate it.

The nobles and elders of the city lie at the feet of the Assyrian king to say, "if it pleases you kill me, if it pleases you spare my life". If it pleases you do, what you will.