Chapter 4 – FAMILIA MUNDIAL
1 [1] He became angry: because of his narrowly nationalistic vindictiveness, Jonah did not wish the Lord to forgive the Ninevites.
2 [6] Gourd plant: the Hebrew word, kikayon means here a wide-leafed plant of the cucumber or castor-bean variety.
3 [10-11] Jonah is selfish in bemoaning his personal loss of a shady gourd plant without any concern over the threat of loss of life to the Ninevites through the destruction of their city. If God in his kindness provided the plant for his prophet without the latter’s effort or merit, how much more is he disposed to show love and mercy toward all men, Jew and Gentile, when they repent of their sins and implore his pardon! God’s providence is also shown here to extend even to animals.