1 Then all the captains H8269 of the forces, H2428 and Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and Jezaniah H3153 the son H1121 of Hoshaiah, H1955 and all the people H5971 from the least H6996 even unto the greatest, H1419 came near, H5066
But when Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and all the captains H8269 of the forces H2428 that were with him, heard H8085 of all the evil H7451 that Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah H5418 had done, H6213
And I will take H3947 the remnant H7611 of Judah, H3063 that have set H7760 their faces H6440 to go H935 into the land H776 of Egypt H4714 to sojourn H1481 there, and they shall all be consumed, H8552 and fall H5307 in the land H776 of Egypt; H4714 they shall even be consumed H8552 by the sword H2719 and by the famine: H7458 they shall die, H4191 from the least H6996 even unto the greatest, H1419 by the sword H2719 and by the famine: H7458 and they shall be an execration, H423 and an astonishment, H8047 and a curse, H7045 and a reproach. H2781
Then called H7121 he Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and all the captains H8269 of the forces H2428 which were with him, and all the people H5971 from the least H6996 even to the greatest, H1419
Then they came H935 to Gedaliah H1436 to Mizpah, H4708 even Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 and Johanan H3110 and Jonathan H3129 the sons H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and Seraiah H8304 the son H1121 of Tanhumeth, H8576 and the sons H1121 of Ephai H5778 the Netophathite, H5200 and Jezaniah H3153 the son H1121 of a Maachathite, H4602 they and their men. H582
To whom G3739 they all G3956 gave heed, G4337 from G575 the least G3398 to G2193 the greatest, G3173 saying, G3004 This man G3778 is G2076 the great G3173 power G1411 of God. G2316
Therefore will I give H5414 their wives H802 unto others, H312 and their fields H7704 to them that shall inherit H3423 them: for every one from the least H6996 even unto the greatest H1419 is given H1214 to covetousness, H1215 from the prophet H5030 even unto the priest H3548 every one dealeth H6213 falsely. H8267
And it came to pass in the seventh H7637 year, H8141 in the fifth H2549 month, the tenth H6218 day of the month, H2320 that certain H582 of the elders H2205 of Israel H3478 came H935 to enquire H1875 of the LORD, H3068 and sat H3427 before H6440 me. Then came the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto me, saying, H559 Son H1121 of man, H120 speak H1696 unto the elders H2205 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Are ye come H935 to enquire H1875 of me? As I live, H2416 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 I will not be enquired H1875 of by you.
This G3778 people G2992 draweth nigh G1448 unto me G3427 with their G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 honoureth G5091 me G3165 with their lips; G5491 but G1161 their G846 heart G2588 is G568 far G4206 from G575 me. G1700
And they come H935 unto thee as the people H5971 cometh, H3996 and they sit H3427 before H6440 thee as my people, H5971 and they hear H8085 thy words, H1697 but they will not do H6213 them: for with their mouth H6310 they shew H6213 much love, H5690 but their heart H3820 goeth H1980 after H310 their covetousness. H1215
And when all the captains H8269 of the armies, H2428 they and their men, H582 heard H8085 that the king H4428 of Babylon H894 had made Gedaliah H1436 governor, H6485 there came H935 to Gedaliah H1436 to Mizpah, H4709 even Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 and Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Careah, H7143 and Seraiah H8304 the son H1121 of Tanhumeth H8576 the Netophathite, H5200 and Jaazaniah H2970 the son H1121 of a Maachathite, H4602 they and their men. H582
Son H1121 of man, H120 these men H582 have set up H5927 their idols H1544 in their heart, H3820 and put H5414 the stumblingblock H4383 of their iniquity H5771 before H5227 their face: H6440 should I be enquired H1875 of at all H1875 by them? Therefore speak H1696 unto them, and say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Every man H376 of the house H1004 of Israel H3478 that setteth up H5927 his idols H1544 in his heart, H3820 and putteth H7760 the stumblingblock H4383 of his iniquity H5771 before H5227 his face, H6440 and cometh H935 to the prophet; H5030 I the LORD H3068 will answer H6030 him that cometh H935 according to the multitude H7230 of his idols; H1544
Moreover the spirit H7307 lifted me up, H5375 and brought H935 me unto the east H6931 gate H8179 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 which looketh H6437 eastward: H6921 and behold at the door H6607 of the gate H8179 five H2568 and twenty H6242 men; H376 among H8432 whom I saw H7200 Jaazaniah H2970 the son H1121 of Azur, H5809 and Pelatiah H6410 the son H1121 of Benaiah, H1141 princes H8269 of the people. H5971
And there stood H5975 before H6440 them seventy H7657 men H376 of the ancients H2205 of the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 and in the midst H8432 of them stood H5975 Jaazaniah H2970 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 with every man H376 his censer H4730 in his hand; H3027 and a thick H6282 cloud H6051 of incense H7004 went up. H5927
So Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and all the captains H8269 of the forces, H2428 and all the people, H5971 obeyed H8085 not the voice H6963 of the LORD, H3068 to dwell H3427 in the land H776 of Judah. H3063 But Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and all the captains H8269 of the forces, H2428 took H3947 all the remnant H7611 of Judah, H3063 that were returned H7725 from all nations, H1471 whither they had been driven, H5080 to dwell H1481 in the land H776 of Judah; H3063
For ye dissembled H8582 in your hearts, H5315 when ye sent H7971 me unto the LORD H3068 your God, H430 saying, H559 Pray H6419 for us unto the LORD H3068 our God; H430 and according unto all that the LORD H3068 our God H430 shall say, H559 so declare H5046 unto us, and we will do H6213 it.
Then took H3947 Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and all the captains H8269 of the forces H2428 that were with him, all the remnant H7611 of the people H5971 whom he had recovered H7725 from Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 from Mizpah, H4709 after H310 that he had slain H5221 Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam, H296 even mighty H1397 men H582 of war, H4421 and the women, H802 and the children, H2945 and the eunuchs, H5631 whom he had brought again H7725 from Gibeon: H1391
Therefore I said, H559 Surely these are poor; H1800 they are foolish: H2973 for they know H3045 not the way H1870 of the LORD, H3068 nor the judgment H4941 of their God. H430 I will get H3212 me unto the great men, H1419 and will speak H1696 unto them; for they have known H3045 the way H1870 of the LORD, H3068 and the judgment H4941 of their God: H430 but these have altogether H3162 broken H7665 the yoke, H5923 and burst H5423 the bonds. H4147
Cry H7121 aloud, H1627 spare H2820 not, lift H7311 up thy voice H6963 like a trumpet, H7782 and shew H5046 my people H5971 their transgression, H6588 and the house H1004 of Jacob H3290 their sins. H2403 Yet they seek H1875 me daily, H3117 H3117 and delight H2654 to know H1847 my ways, H1870 as a nation H1471 that did H6213 righteousness, H6666 and forsook H5800 not the ordinance H4941 of their God: H430 they ask H7592 of me the ordinances H4941 of justice; H6664 they take delight H2654 in approaching H7132 to God. H430
Hear H8085 ye this, O house H1004 of Jacob, H3290 which are called H7121 by the name H8034 of Israel, H3478 and are come forth H3318 out of the waters H4325 of Judah, H3063 which swear H7650 by the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 and make mention H2142 of the God H430 of Israel, H3478 but not in truth, H571 nor in righteousness. H6666
Wherefore the Lord H136 said, H559 Forasmuch H3282 as this people H5971 draw near H5066 me with their mouth, H6310 and with their lips H8193 do honour H3513 me, but have removed H7368 their heart H3820 far H7368 from me, and their fear H3374 toward me is taught H3925 by the precept H4687 of men: H582
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 42
Commentary on Jeremiah 42 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 42
Jer 42:1-22. The Jews and Johanan Inquire of God, through Jeremiah, as to Going to Egypt, Promising Obedience to His Will. Their Safety on Condition of Staying in Judea, and Their Destruction in the Event of Going to Egypt, Are Foretold. Their Hypocrisy in Asking for Counsel Which They Meant Not to Follow, if Contrary to Their Own Determination, Is Reproved.
2. Jeremiah—He probably was one of the number carried off from Mizpah, and dwelt with Johanan (Jer 41:16). Hence the expression is, "came near" (Jer 42:1), not "sent."
Let … supplication be accepted—literally, "fall" (see on Jer 36:7; Jer 37:20).
pray for us—(Ge 20:7; Isa 37:4; Jas 5:16).
thy God—(Jer 42:5). The Jews use this form to express their belief in the peculiar relation in which Jeremiah stood to God as His accredited prophet. Jeremiah in his reply reminds them that God is their God ("your God") as well as his as being the covenant people (Jer 42:4). They in turn acknowledge this in Jer 42:6, "the Lord our God."
few of many—as had been foretold (Le 26:22).
3. They consulted God, like many, not so much to know what was right, as wishing Him to authorize what they had already determined on, whether agreeable to His will or not. So Ahab in consulting Micaiah (1Ki 22:13). Compare Jeremiah's answer (Jer 42:4) with Micaiah's (1Ki 22:14).
4. I have heard—that is, I accede to your request.
your God—Being His by adoption, ye are not your own, and are bound to whatever He wills (Ex 19:5, 6; 1Co 6:19, 20).
answer you—that is, through me.
keep nothing back—(1Sa 3:18; Ac 20:20).
5. Lord be a true … witness—(Ge 31:50; Ps 89:37; Re 1:5; 3:14; 19:11).
6. evil—not moral evil, which God cannot command (Jas 1:13), but what may be disagreeable and hard to us. Piety obeys God, without questioning, at all costs. See the instance defective in this, that it obeyed only so far as was agreeable to itself (1Sa 15:3, 9, 13-15, 20-23).
7. ten days—Jeremiah did not speak of himself, but waited God's time and revelation, showing the reality of his inspiration. Man left to himself would have given an immediate response to the people, who were impatient of delay. The delay was designed to test the sincerity of their professed willingness to obey, and that they should have full time to deliberate (De 8:2). True obedience bows to God's time, as well as His way and will.
10. If ye … abide—namely, under the Babylonian authority, to which God hath appointed that all should be subject (Da 2:37, 38). To resist was to resist God.
build … plant—metaphor for, I will firmly establish you (Jer 24:6).
I repent … of the evil—(Jer 18:8; De 32:36). I am satisfied with the punishment I have inflicted on you, if only you add not a new offense [Grotius]. God is said to "repent," when He alters His outward ways of dealing.
12. show mercies—rather, I will excite (in him) feelings of mercy towards you [Calvin].
cause you to return—permit you to return to the peaceable enjoyment of the possessions from which you are wishing to withdraw through fear of the Chaldeans. By departing in disobedience they should incur the very evils they wished thereby to escape; and by staying they should gain the blessings which they feared to lose by doing so.
13. if ye say, &c.—avowed rebellion against God, who had often (De 17:16), as now, forbidden their going to Egypt, lest they should be entangled in its idolatry.
14. where we shall see no war—Here they betray their impiety in not believing God's promise (Jer 42:10, 11), as if He were a liar (1Jo 5:10).
15. wholly set your faces—firmly resolve (Lu 9:51) in spite of all warnings (Jer 44:12).
16. sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you—The very evils we think to escape by sin, we bring on ourselves thereby. What our hearts are most set on often proves fatal to us. Those who think to escape troubles by changing their place will find them wherever they go (Eze 11:8). The "sword" here is that of Nebuchadnezzar, who fulfilled the prediction in his expedition to Africa (according to Megasthenes, a heathen writer), 300 B.C.
17. all the men—excepting the "small number" mentioned (Jer 44:14, 28); namely, those who were forced into Egypt against their will, Jeremiah, Baruch, &c., and those who took Jeremiah's advice and fled from Egypt before the arrival of the Chaldeans.
18. As mine anger, &c.—As ye have already, to your sorrow, found Me true to My word, so shall ye again (Jer 7:20; 18:16).
shall see this place no more—Ye shall not return to Judea, as those shall who have been removed to Babylon.
19. I have admonished—literally, "testified," that is, solemnly admonished, having yourselves as My witnesses; so that if ye perish, ye yourselves will have to confess that it was through your own fault, not through ignorance, ye perished.
20. dissembled in your hearts—rather, "ye have used deceit against your (own) souls." It is not God, but yourselves, whom ye deceive, to your own ruin, by your own dissimulation (Ga 6:7) [Calvin]. But the words following accord best with English Version, ye have dissembled in your hearts (see on Jer 42:3) towards me, when ye sent me to consult God for you.
21. declared it—namely, the divine will.
I … but ye—antithesis. I have done my part; but ye do not yours. It is no fault of mine that ye act not rightly.
22. sojourn—for a time, until they could return to their country. They expected, therefore, to be restored, in spite of God's prediction to the contrary.