The Assyrians were mean, violent, nasty and oppressive. They made life miserable for the Israelites year after year. Jonah was an Israelite and Jonah is told by God to take a message to the great city named Nineveh in Assyria. Jonah reflects— Assyria—our hated enemy and you God want me to go to the center of the beast and do something good for them? Seriously? No way!
