Bible Discussion Thread

In Jonah 4:11, It says there were more than sixscore thousand saved. That is 120,000. I heard a song with a Billy Graham excerpt where he states it was the greatest revival in history, over 600,000 were saved. In my search for where this number came from, I have seen a few sites that use numbers similar. Some say 100,000 to 600,000. I even saw one that said there were anywhere from 600,000 to 1,000,000. Does anyone know where these numbers come from? If it were more than 140,000, wouldn't it have said more than seven score? Is there another scripture that gives evidence there were anywhere near 600,000?

Lisa, you have that figure correct at 120,000. But if you read the verse fully, you will see that that figure applies to those "who cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand" So this figure of 120K, refers to the immature ones of the population, i.e. young children.

That being the case, then it's very likely that those other numbers you've seen, 600K plus, would refer to the rest of the population of Nineveh. So, the differing numbers you noted, are just people's guesses as to what Nineveh's population might have been at that time. So, I hope you are clear on this. And don't forget the "much cattle"! They're important too, as if Jonah didn't go to preach repentance to them, not only the people but also innocent children & innocent cattle would have been destroyed.

I think that answer may have only been more confusing, lol. But I see where you went, and I appreciate the comment. I did wonder why they mentioned the cattle. I will have to look into how they took census back then. I find this interesting. Thank you.