With the new year upon us, maybe there will be someone new looking in who knows of examples as requested in the OP and clarified in further posts. And again, remember that the purpose of this topic is not to discuss how long the Messiah was in the heart of the earth. As stated, there are other topics that do that. However, there are those who say that Matthew 12:40 is using common Jewish idiomatic language. But in order to say that it was common, one would have to know of other instances where the same pattern had to have been used. I am simply looking for some of those instances, scriptural or otherwise. So far no one has come forth with any.
Here are some. I won't elaborate on them extensively.
1. Luke 13:32-33
2. Lev 7:16-17
3. Esther 4:16, 5:1-8
4. Gen 42:17,18
5. I Samuel 20:12
6. Acts 27:18,19
7. Exodus 19:10,11
Any way you go about it, though, we know Christ was crucified on the Preparation Day, which was synonymous with Friday, and was resurrected Sunday, so we know that he was in the grave part of Friday, all of Saturday, and part of Sunday. That particular Sabbath was also a high day, the first day of Unleavened Bread. My understanding is that the phrase "high day" refers to the coincidence of a Holy Day with a Sabbath (John 19:31). Armstrongites, which I was a part of, claimed that the "high day" referred to the beginning and end day of the multiple-day festivals, but I find evidence for that to be lacking, and even if it was true, sabbaton definitely has a weekly context, so their argument does not hold up...in fact sabbaton is translated as "week" so there is no mistake that it has a weekly context in Greek.
I was indoctrinated into the Wednesday - Saturday view as a Sabbathkeeper. My biggest issue with those who hold this view are those who claim that other Christians are in error over it, and try to impugn their integrity, as well as the integrity of church leaders in the past. In fact, many go so far as to consider normal evangelical Protestants to be part of the Great Prostitute of Revelation 17, and to be unbelievers or following a paganized version of Christianity. I don't really care if someone thinks that the other chronology is correct, but the ones who hold the "Great Prostitute" view are the ones I'm concerned with. They are serving the cause of Satan in slandering and accusing other Christians over minutae.
Most of their faulty interpretation of Revelation 17 comes from theological dunces like Alexander Hislop, about four generations removed from him. Their teachers were likely affected by Hislop, whether they know it or not. In addition, I am pretty sure the view of Revelation that most evangelicals hold is in error, and that the Great Prostitute was actually the Jewish nation, that was judged by God in the events preceding the destruction of the Temple in AD70.
I think the other view really only rests on their view of one Scripture, that seems to point to a 72 hour time period (Matthew 12:40), while the vast majority of Scriptures relating to this event nicely fit into the "third day" view (Matt 16:21, 17:23, 20:19, 26:61, 27:40, 27:64, Mk 9:31, 10:34, 14:58, 15:29, Luke 9:22, 13:32, 18:33, 24:7, 24:21, 24:46, John 2:19, 2:20, Acts 10:40, I Cor 15:4).
I don't form doctrinal understanding based on one Scripture which is so similar in terms of wording that it is immaterial, and in addition, I seriously consider the weight of church history. The church has been wrong on some topics, such as justification by faith alone, but I would seriously consider the weight of church history first before taking a radical view in opposition to the weight of church history.
Some would call that following the "doctrines of men" but usually the same accusers in this regard have their own traditions which are not biblical. In addition, they teach much greater problematic doctrines. With the Armstrongites, they taught that they were going to be fully God in the resurrection and that they were the only true church; everyone else was unsaved. So, on topics like this, I also consider the overall reputation of groups making such claims.
For a fuller study on this topic, I recommend Ralph Woodrow's book "Three Days and Three Nights". Ralph held the Wednesday - Saturday view and then reversed himself on this view. He also promoted Alexander Hislop's works in books he wrote, and reversed his view on the soundness of Hislop's theology in a book called The Babylon Connection? He also held the view that Easter was pagan in origin, and reversed that after more careful study.
His books are available here:
Ralph Woodrow Evangelistic Association
Cults such as the Armstrongites (my former fellowship) used Ralph's previous books to support their bad teachings. The current books basically refute his teachings on those subjects.
Many groups such as Hebrew Roots Movement groups were affected by Armstrongism; some of the founders of the movement were previous Armstrongites.
The attitude of those who make such a big deal about minor things like this is that they are straining at gnats and swallowing camels.
Matt 23:24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
I was one of them, so I try to undo some of the damage by refuting their foolishness and showing that the other view can be substantiated solidly, so that some perhaps will see the folly of their ways and not perpetuate the same nonsense.