Jeremiah 42
1 Johanan desires Jeremiah to enquire of God, promising obedience to his will.
7 Jeremiah assures him of safety in Judea;
13 and destruction in Egypt.
19 He reproves their hypocrisy, in enquiring of the Lord that which they mean not to follow.
officers ............... people <08269 05971> [all the.]
Jezaniah <03153> [Jezaniah.]
[Jaazaniah.]
every class <06996> [from.]
went <05066> [came.]
grant <05307 06440> [be accepted before thee. Heb. fall before thee.]
pray <06419> [and pray.]
left out <07604> [left.]
Jeremiah <03414> [Jeremiah.]
The princes seem to have wholly neglected Jeremiah, till on this occasion they wanted his sanction to their purpose of going to Egypt. In order to induce him to favour them, they applied to him with one consent, in the most respectful and plausible manner: they used language to prepossess him with a favourable opinion of them, and to move his compassion; and, in words expressing great humility, they entreated his prayers in their behalf, and that he would enquire of the Lord what he would have them to do. The prophet readily acquiesced; and doubted not but that he should receive an answer from God, which he would unreservedly declare to them; and they called the Lord to witness that they would implicitly follow his directions.
pray <06419> [I will pray.]
as <01697> [whatsoever.]
anything <04513> [I will keep.]
Lord .... true ............... Lord <03068 0571> [The Lord be.]
do <06213> [if we.]
<02896> [it be good.]
well <03190> [that it.]
At this time he was waiting for a revelation from God in answer to the enquiries of the people; who probably thus delayed to make known his will, in order to shew them that Jeremiah did not speak of his own mind, but when and as he was directed. The delay was also suited to give time for consideration, and to retard their rash project; and, as it would render them impatient, it tended to detect their hypocrisy, and to shew more clearly their determined rebellion against God.
Johanan <03110> [Johanan.]
said ..... sent .................... says <0559 07971> [unto.]
stay <03427> [abide.]
build <01129> [then.]
sorrow <05162> [for I.]
afraid .......... fear ..... afraid <03372 03373> [afraid.]
save <03467> [for I.]
go <0935> [we will go.]
hear <08085> [nor hear.]
so determined <07760> [If.]
If ye are determined to go into Egypt, the evils which ye dreaded by staying in your own land shall overtake and destroy you there; "and there shall ye die." God turned the policy of the wicked to their own destruction; for while they thought themselves safe in Egypt, there Nebuchadnezzar destroyed both them and the Egyptians.
wars <02719> [that the sword.]
follow <01692> [follow close. Heb. cleave. there ye.]
<0582> [it be with all the men. Heb. all the men be. they shall.]
survive <08300> [none.]
wrath <0639> [As mine.]
The people had witnessed the tremendous effects of the wrath of God, in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem; and had they not been past feeling, this denunciation must have made their ears tingle, and appalled their very souls.
cursed <0423> [ye shall be.]
see <07200> [and ye shall see.]
go <0935> [Go.]
God knew, that such was their miserable propensity to idolatry, that they would adopt the idolatrous worship of Egypt. Add to which, their going thither for protection was in effect refusing to submit to the king of Babylon, to whom God had decreed the rule of Judah and the neighbouring kingdoms.
sure <03045> [know.]
warn ..... now <05749 03117> [admonished you. Heb. testified against you.]
fatal <08582> [For ye.]
God made known to the prophet their dissimulation; which he shunned not to declare to them.
fatal <05315 08582> [dissembled in your hearts. Heb. have used deceit against your souls.]
Pray <06419> [Pray.]
day <03117> [I have.]
obey <08085> [but.]
sure <03045> [know.]
place <04725> [in the.]
go ... live <0935 01481> [to go and to sojourn. or, to go to sojourn.]
