So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to the word of Yahweh. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey across.
Another explanation is that the literal meaning of the phrase, namely, "a visit of three days," describes the protocol involved in visiting an important city such as Nineveh. It was customary in the ancient Near East for an emissary from another city-state to take three days for an official visit. He would spend the first day meeting and enjoying the hospitality of his host, the second day discussing the primary purpose of his visit, and the third saying his farewells. [Note: Wiseman, "Jonah’s Nineveh," p. 38. See also Stuart, pp. 487-88.] If Jonah was such an emissary, he went as a divine representative to Nineveh’s king and other government officials as well as to the people. This explanation suggests that Jonah’s preaching may have started with the king and then proceeded to the people rather than the other way around. This view may account better for the king’s repentance and his decree to all the people to repent (Heb. sub; Jonah 3:6-9) compared to the traditional view.