| Jonah 3:7
| And he caused it to be proclaimed and published in Ninive, from the mouth of the king, and of his princes, saying: Let neither men nor beasts, oxen, nor sheep, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water.
| Princes. Their consent was requisite, to form an irrevocable edict, Daniel 6:8. --- Men. Even infants, according to the Fathers, Joel 2:16. St. Basil adds also, the young of cattle. This was done to excite rational beings to repentance. (Theodoret) --- We do not find that cattle were deprived of food on such occasions among the Jews. But Virgil specifies that this was the case at the death of Caesar, (Ecl. v.) as it was in droughts among some nations of America. (Horn 2:13.) (Calmet) --- When people are greatly moved by repentance, they exceed in austerity; but if this be not indiscreet, God accepts of their good intention. (Worthington)
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