Topical Bible: Sackcloth: Animals Covered With, at a Time of National Mourning

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Sackcloth, a coarse, dark fabric made from goat's hair, is frequently mentioned in the Bible as a symbol of mourning, repentance, and humility. While it is most commonly associated with human expressions of grief and penitence, there are instances in Scripture where even animals are covered with sackcloth during times of national mourning, emphasizing the depth and communal nature of the lamentation.

One of the most notable instances of animals being covered with sackcloth occurs in the Book of Jonah. When the prophet Jonah finally delivers God's message to the city of Nineveh, warning of impending destruction due to their wickedness, the response is immediate and profound. The king of Nineveh, upon hearing the message, leads the city in a dramatic act of repentance. Jonah 3:7-8 records the king's decree: "Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: 'By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands.'"

This passage highlights the comprehensive nature of Nineveh's repentance. The inclusion of animals in the act of wearing sackcloth underscores the totality of the city's contrition and the seriousness with which they approached their need for divine mercy. It reflects an understanding that the entire community, including its livestock, was implicated in the need for repentance and was subject to the consequences of divine judgment.

The use of sackcloth for animals in this context also serves to amplify the urgency and sincerity of the people's plea to God. By extending the practice of wearing sackcloth beyond humans to include animals, the Ninevites demonstrate an extraordinary level of humility and submission to God's will. This act of covering animals with sackcloth is a vivid illustration of the communal aspect of repentance and the desire for collective deliverance from impending doom.

In the broader biblical narrative, the use of sackcloth, whether by humans or animals, is a powerful symbol of mourning and repentance. It signifies a turning away from sin and a heartfelt appeal for God's forgiveness and intervention. The inclusion of animals in this practice during times of national mourning serves to deepen the expression of sorrow and the earnestness of the plea for divine mercy.

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Jonah 3:8
But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God: yes, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
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Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... him there to sit as such; he had covered his cloven ... shall come, it will be to him
a time of retaliation ... by the people that used to walk in sackcloth, shall now ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm