Jeremiah 42

Johanan and all the people desire Jeremiah to ask for counsel of God from them with great promises of obedience verse1 c. Jeremiah had command from God prophesieth unto them their preservation from Judea but their destruction in Egypt with an upbraiding of their hypocrisy and obstinancy,7.

1. Then all the captains of the armies Johanan the son of Korea and Jezaniah the son of Hashanja and all the people from the least unto the greatest came near:

2. and said unto prophet Jeremiah let we pray thee our supplication fall down before thy face [see of this phrase above 36 on verse 7the meaning is let our humble petition prevail with thee reject it not compare verse 9]then pray for us unto the Lord thy god for remnant for we are left but a few of many like as thine eyes do behold us;

3. That the Lord thy God make known unto us the way wherein we shall go and the thing which we shall do.

4. And the prophet Jeremiah said unto them I have heard it [that is well understood see Genesis 11:7 in the annotate or I hear that is I am ready to satisfy your desire]behold I will pray to the Lord your God according to your words and it shall come to pass that the whole word which the Lord shall answer you I will make it known unto you I will not keep one word back form you.

5. Then said they unto Jeremiah the Lord be a true and certain witness [Heb a witness of truth and certain or faithful] between us [or against us amongst us] of we shall do so according to every word with which the Lord thy God shall send thee unto us [an abrupt kind of oath as above chapter 38.16 see there.]

6. Whether then it be good or evil [to wit in our eyes that whether it like or dislike us please or displease us whether it agree with our reason and understanding or not whether it go with us or against us whether it be acceptable or but then some and grievous to us]we will be obedient unto the voice of the Lord our God to whom we send thee that it may go well with us when we shall be obedient to the Lord our God.

7. It came to pass at the end of ten days that the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah.

8. Then called the son of Johanan and all the captains of the armies that were with him and all the people and the least unto the greatest.

9. And he said unto the them the Lord of host the God of Israel unto whom you cast down your supplication before your face [compare above verse2]

10. If you will still dwell [others still abide or returning to wit from your purpose will abide or dwelling will dwell]in this land then will I build you,[see Psalms 28 on verse 5]and not break you down and plant you and not pluck you out [compare above chapter 24.6 and 31.4aand 33.7] for I repent me [see Genesis 6] for the evil [of punishment] that I have done unto you.

11. Be not afraid of the face of the king of Babel of whose face you are afraid be not afraid of him saith the Lord for I will be with you to save you and deliver you from this hand.

12. And I will give mercy unto you [to wit before the face of the king of Babel see the same phrase Genesis 43:14 and compare Nehem 1.11 Psalms 106:46 Daniel 1:9 and 1 Kings 8:50 Ezra 7:28] that he may have mercy upon you and bring you again unto your own land [that is cause you to dwell in peace in your own land vineyards c. which in former time you were constrained to forsake and could not enjoy them see above chapter 40.11,12.]

13. But you shall say we will not abide to the land that ye may not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God :

14. Saying no but we will go into the land of Egypt where we shall see no war [compare above chapter 14.13]nor hear the sound of the trumpet nor hunger after bread and there we will abide.

15. Now then therefore hear the word of the Lord ye remnant of Judah thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel if ye shall fully set your face to go into Egypt [Heb setting shall set c hat is if ye shall cast your eyes wholly upon Egypt and firmly minded to go thither so often to the sequel compare 1 Kings 2 on verse15] and shall enter into sojourn there.

16. Then it shall come to pass that the sword which ye fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt and the famine whereof ye are afraid shall cleave you from behind there in the land of Egypt and the famine whereof ye are afraid shall cleave unto ye from behind there in Egypt then ye shall die there.

17. So shall all men be [that so shall it be with them] that set their faces to get into Egypt to sojourn there they shall die by the sword by the famine by the pestilence and they shall have none to remain or escaping [Heb. Have none remaining or escaping meaning some few excepted chapter 44.14, 18] from the evil [Heb from the face of evil] that I will bring upon them.

18. For thus saith the Lord of host the God of Israel like as mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem so shall my fury be poured forth upon you when ye shall come into Egypt and ye shall be cursing [or exaggeration that when they curse any man with an oath they shall use your example for it wishing that it may so befall them as it hath befallen you compare above chapter 29.22 and below chapter 44.12 and Isaiah 65:15] and the astonishment[as above chapter 18.16 and 19.8 and 25.9 and 29.18] and a curse[as above chapter 24.9 and 25.18 and 26.6 and 29.18] and a reproach[above chapter 24.9and 29.18] and shall see this place [the land of Judah]no more.

19. The Lord hath spoken against you [or upon concerning you] ye remnant of Judah go not into Egypt know assuredly [Heb. Knowing ye shall know] that I have testified against ye [or among ye that I have earnestly as in the presence of God exhorteth and admonished you whereof God exhorted and admonished you whereof God and yourself admonished you whereof God and yourself be witnesses I protest that I have done my devour] this day.

20. Certainly ye have seduced your own souls [that ye have deceived your own self thinking by your hypocrisy to wrest God according to our own mind others ye have ye have seduced me or caused me to err against your souls that is to your own destruction or that which was in your souls that is speaking otherwise to me then your hearts purposed to do dealing as hypocrites with me]for ye sent me unto the Lord your God saying pray for us unto the Lord your God according to all the Lord our God shall say so make it known unto us and we will do it.

21. Now I have this day made known unto ye but ye have not hearkened unto the Lord your God nor unto all which he hath sent unto you[or nor unto anything for the which he c now they had above verse 5 promised the clean contrary with the strong oath.]

22. Now therefore know certainly [Heb knowing ye shall know]that ye shall die by the sword by the famine and by the pestilence in the place wither ye are minded to go to sojourn there.