He prayed to Yahweh, and said, "Please, Yahweh, wasn't this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you repent of the evil.
Jonah’s description of God goes back to Exodus 34:6-7, a very ancient expression of God’s character (cf. Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 86:15; Psalms 103:8; Psalms 145:8; Joel 2:13; Nahum 1:3). "Gracious" (from the Heb. hen, grace) expresses God’s attitude toward those who have no claim on Him because they are outside any covenant relationship with Him. [Note: Ellison, "Jonah," p. 385.] Compassion, one of the themes of this story, is a trait that Jonah recognized in God but did not share with Him as he should have. Lovingkindness (Heb. hesed) refers to God’s loyal love to those who are in covenant relationship with Him. The prophet was criticizing God for good qualities that he recognized in God. He wished God were not so good.