CHAPTER XLII _Johanan and the remnant of the people desire Jeremiah to ask_ _counsel of God what they should do_, 1-3. _The prophet assures them of safety in Judea, but destruction in_ _Egypt_, 4-18; _and reproves their hypocrisy in asking counsel with which they_ _had no intention to comply_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 42:3. _THAT THE LORD THY GOD MAY SHOW US_] They all thought there was no safety in Jerusalem or in Judea, and therefore determined to leave the land: but they did not know which might be the safest direction to take; for though they inclined to Egypt, yet they wished to know the mind... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 42:5. _THE LORD BE A TRUE AND FAITHFUL WITNESS_] The Lord is such; and as ye have bound yourselves to obey his voice, he will register the covenant, and bless or curse according as ye shall conduct yourselves in this matter.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 42:7. _AFTER TEN DAYS_] All this time he was waiting upon God; for it is evident the prophets could not prophesy when they pleased, any more than the disciples of our Lord could work miracles when they wished. The gift of prophecy and the gift of miracles were both dependent on the wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 42:10. _FOR I REPENT ME OF THE EVIL_] The meaning is, As I have punished you only because you continued to be rebellious, I will arrest this punishment as soon as you become obedient to my word. You need not fear the king of Babylon if you have me for your helper; and I will so show m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 42:15. _IF YE - SET YOUR FACES TO ENTER INTO EGYPT, C._] Every evil that ye dreaded by staying in your own land shall come upon you in Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 42:16. _THE SWORD - AND THE FAMINE - SHALL FOLLOW CLOSE AFTER YOU_] Shall be at your heels; shall overtake and destroy you; _for there_ _ye shall die_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 42:19. _GO YE NOT INTO EGYPT_] Why? Because God knew, such was their miserable propensity to idolatry, that they would there adopt the worship of the country, and serve idols.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 42:20. _FOR YE DISSEMBLED IN YOUR HEARTS_] What a most miserable and incorrigible people! Ingratitude, hypocrisy, rebellion, and cruelty seem to have been enthroned in their hearts! And what are they still? Just what their fathers were, except in the mere article of _idolatry_; and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 42:21. _YE HAVE NOT OBEYED THE VOICE_] Though ye have requested to have this particular revelation of the Divine will, and promised obedience, yet have ye not done one thing for which ye sent me to inquire of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 42:22. _NOW THEREFORE KNOW CERTAINLY_] As ye have determined to disobey, God has determined to punish. Ye may now follow the full bent of your wicked devices, and I will follow the requisitions of my justice. Ye shall die by the sword, by the pestilence, and by the famine, in the plac... [ Continue Reading ]