252 The Legends of the Jews
Seeing that the Ninevites had undergone a real change of heart, God took mercy upon them, and pardoned them. Thereupon Jonah likewise felt encouraged to plead for him- self with God, that He forgive him for his flight. God spoke to him : " Thou wast mindful of Mine honor," — the prophet had not wanted to appear a liar, so that men's trust in God might not be shaken — " and for this reason thou didst take to the sea. Therefore did I deal mercifully with thee, and rescue thee from the bowels of Sheol."
His sojourn in the inside of the fish the prophet could not easily dismiss from his mind, nor did it remain without visi- ble consequences. The intense heat in the belly of the fish had consumed his garments, and made his hair fall out," and he was sore plagued by swarms of insects. To afford Jonah protection, God caused the kikayon to grow up. When he opened his eyes one morning, he saw a plant with two hun- dred and seventy-five leaves, each leaf measuring more than a span, so that it afforded relief from the heat of the sun. But the sun smote the gourd that it withered, and Jonah was again annoyed by the insects. He began to weep and wish for death to release him from his troubles. But when God led him to the plant, and showed him what lesson he might derive from it, — how, though he had not labored for the plant, he had pity on it, — he realized his wrong in desir- ing God to be relentless toward Nineveh, the great city, with its many inhabitants, rather than have his reputation as a prophet suffer taint. He prostrated himself and said: " O God, guide the world according to Thy goodness."
God was gracious to the people of Nineveh so long as they continued worthy of His lovingkindness. But at the
