God used this question to emphasize his claim that he should have compassion on Nineveh. Alternate translation: "I certainly should have compassion for Nineveh, that important city ... animals." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
120,000 people (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
# who do not know the difference between their right hand and their left hand
This may be a way of saying "they cannot tell the difference between right and wrong."
# also many cattle
The author is pointing out the depth of Nineveh's repentance to the extent that Yahweh takes note of the beasts' participation in the act of repentance. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])