Jeremiah 42:6

Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God. WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR ... EVIL - not moral evil, which God cannot command (), 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 (Saul in respect to God's command for the destruction of the Amalekites, ; ; ; )....

As the Jews spoke feignedly by assuming a character not their own, they profaned God’s name. But if we desire to prove our fidelity to God, the only way of acting is, to regard his word as binding, whether it be agreeable or otherwise, and never to murmur, as the ungodly do; for when God would have a yoke laid on them, they complain that his doctrine is too hard and burdensome. Away, then, with all those things which can render God’s word unacceptable to us, if we desire to give a sure proof of our fidelity. Hence they said, _Whether it be good or evil, _what God will lay down we will obey his voice. They afterwards added, _For which we send thee to him _(127) Here they still further cast themselves into toils. Jeremiah did not in express words require them to make an oath; they yet did make an oath; and then in various ways still more bound themselves over to punishment, if they became...

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....

WE - The form used here occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament, but is the regular form of the pronoun in the Talmud. It is one out of many instances of Jeremiah using the popular instead of the literary language of his times....

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 ...

WHETHER [IT BE] GOOD, OR WHETHER [IT BE] EVIL,.... Not morally good, or evil; for nothing but what is good, and not evil, in this sense, can come from God; but whether pleasantly or profitably good or evil; whether agreeable or disagreeable, pleasing or displeasing, advantageous or not; whether it seemed to them good or evil, be it what it would in their opinion and esteem: WE WILL OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD OUR GOD, TO WHOM WE SEND THEE; this was well spoken, had they been sincere in it; and had they implored and depended on the grace of God to have enabled them to obey; but they spoke not in the uprightness of their hearts; and, did they, it was with too much confidence of their own strength, and the power of their free will: THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH US, WHEN WE OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD OUR GOD; they spoke as if they knew their own interest; for so it was, that it was well or ill w...

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

EVIL. ill. Hebrew. _ra'a'._ App-44. THAT IT MAY BE WELL, &C. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 6:3)....

WHETHER IT BE GOOD, &C.— _Whether it seem good, or whether it seem evil,_ &c. Houbigant....