Jeremiah 42:1

_THEN ALL THE CAPTAINS OF THE FORCES, AND JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH, AND JEZANIAH THE SON OF HOSHAIAH, AND ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE LEAST EVEN UNTO THE GREATEST, CAME NEAR,_ No JFB commentary on this verse....

I have said that John, and his associates, and the whole people acted much more culpably by coming to the Prophet, than if they had not done so, and had gone directly to Egypt: for they either came dissemblingly, and thus designedly spoke what was false, or they were extremely stupid, and hypocrisy had wholly deprived them of their understanding. They came to the Prophet to ask counsel; nay, that he might be to them God’s interpreter, and that thus they might know what to do; and they promised to obey, as we shall hereafter see. However this may have been, they sought an oracle in which it was their duty to acquiesce, except they resolved openly to shake off the yoke and to show themselves to be gross and profane despisers of God. They came to the Prophet, when yet it was their fixed purpose, as we shall see, to go to Egypt. He who asks counsel, ought first to see that he bring no prejud...

1-6 To serve a turn, Jeremiah is sought out, and the captains ask for his assistance. In every difficult, doubtful case, we must look to God for direction; and we may still, in faith, pray to be guided by a spirit of wisdom in our hearts, and the leadings of Providence. We do not truly desire to know the mind of God, if we do not fully resolve to comply with it when we know it. Many promise to do what the Lord requires, while they hope to have their pride flattered, and their favourite lusts spared. Yet something betrays the state of their hearts....

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_, 19-22. NOTES ON CHAP. XLII Verse Jeremiah 42:1. _THE CAPTAINS OF THE FORCES_] The different leaders of the small bands or companies, collected from different parts of the land. The principal are those here named....

Among those delivered by Johanan from Ishmael had been Jeremiah and Baruch Jeremiah 43:6; and to them now all, without exception, come for counsel. JEZANIAH - He is called Azariah in Jeremiah 43:2. The Septuagint, in both places, call him Azariah. Since there is little reason for identifying him with Jezaniah the Maachathite Jeremiah 40:8, it is probable that the Septuagint is right in calling him in both places Azariah, and that the reading Jezaniah arose from some scribe assuming that his name must be found in the earlier list....

EXPOSITION Jeremiah receives a request to inquire of God concerning the proposed emigration, and a "word of the Lord" follows. JEREMIAH 42:1 JEZANIAH THE SON OF HOSHAIAH. For "Jezaniah," the Septuagint has "Azariah," the name given in the Hebrew text of Jeremiah 43:2. JEREMIAH 42:2 SAID UNTO JEROMIAH THE PROPHET. Jeremiah, we have been already told, was one of the refugees at Mizpah (Jeremiah 40:6), and consequently was forced into the train of Ishmael ...

THEN ALL THE CAPTAINS OF THE FORCES,.... Having taken up their residence at the habitation of Chimham, in their way to Egypt, where they were desirous of going, and being afraid of the Chaldeans, as they pretended: AND JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH; or, "even Johanan" s; especially and particularly he, the principal captain and chief spokesman in this affair: AND JEZANIAH THE SON OF HOSHAIAH; said to be the son of a Maachathite, Jeremiah 40:8; AND ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE LEAST EVEN UNTO THE GREATEST: a phrase expressive of the universality of them in the strongest terms: CAME NEAR; that is, to Jeremiah; who either was at Mizpah when Gedaliah was slain, but preserved by the Lord; and though carried captive by Ishmael with the rest, was rescued by Johanan; and now along with him: or rather after he had be

CHAPTER 42 _ 1. Jeremiah the intercessor (Jeremiah 42:1) _ 2. The answer from Jehovah (Jeremiah 42:7) Jeremiah 42:1. The remnant, the few who were left after the terrible happenings recorded in the preceding chapter were now cast upon the Lord and besought the prophet to pray for them: “That the LORD thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.” They believed in Jeremiah as a man of God. He promises to do so, and when the answer comes he will not keep back anything. Jeremiah 42:7. The answer came ten days later. Then the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah. If

JEREMIAH 42:1 TO JEREMIAH 43:7. THE MIGRATION INTO EGYPT. Jeremiah is asked by the leaders (Jeremiah 42:1 _mg.,_ with LXX) and the people to seek Yahweh's guidance, which they solemnly (Jeremiah 42:5 _mg._) promise to follow (Jeremiah 42:1). After ten days, the Divine revelation comes to the prophet and is communicated to the people, to the effect that they are to remain in Judah, where Yahweh promises to protect them from the Babylonians; their hope of prosperity in Egypt will be found delusive; Yahweh will treat them in Egypt as He has

As Jeremiah 41 records the infamous treachery of Ishmael, so Jeremiah 4. records the obstinate disobedience of Johanan. These incidents are recorded (instead of many others) because they show us something of the moral character of the People; and thus furnish us with the reasons for the calamities which overtook them. JEZANIAH. In Jeremiah 43:2 he has. second name, "Azariah". The Septuagint reads this name here....