The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
"Covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes ..." It is quite significant that the ancient governor of Nineveh, along with his people, knew exactly the posture and attitudes of repentance, as a comparison with  Job 2:8 and  Ezekiel 27:30 will reveal.  Surely, there is a trace of the original monotheism in this, a residual remembrance in the heart of dissolute and wicked men of the righteousness and mercy of God. This fundamental conception of God's righteousness and of human wickedness appears to be from the very beginning of man's creation, not instinctive, perhaps, but nearly so.