וַיֵּצֵ֤א יוֹנָה֙ מִן־הָעִ֔יר וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב מִקֶּ֣דֶם לָעִ֑יר וַיַּעַשׂ֩ ל֨וֹ שָׁ֜ם סֻכָּ֗ה וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב תַּחְתֶּ֙יהָ֙ בַּצֵּ֔ל עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִרְאֶ֔ה מַה־יִּהְיֶ֖ה בָּעִֽיר׃
Y salióse Jonás de la ciudad, y asentó hacia el oriente de la ciudad, é hízose allí una choza, y se sentó debajo de ella á la sombra, hasta ver qué sería de la ciudad.
Depths of Yonah
The tension between Hashem and Yonah reaches its zenith in Perek 4. Hashem tries to convince Yonah to relent by administering a dose of Middat HaDin (Attribute of Justice) with His harsh response to Yonah’s complaint and death wish. Yonah, however, refuses to relent and settles down to the east of Nineveh (Yonah 4:5).
Depths of Yonah
It is understandable that Yonah would be pleased that Hashem has enhanced his shade, especially needed in the blistering Middle Eastern sun. However, the “Simcha Gedolah,” “great happiness” (Yonah 4:6) experienced by Yonah appears to be overblown, especially since he already has a Sukkah for shade (as stated in Yonah 4:5).