Johanan's request for divine guidance through Jeremiah ironically precedes his complete rejection of God's answer, revealing the futility of seeking prophecy while predetermined to disobey.
Jeremiah 42
Warning Against Going to Egypt
1Then 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 to the greatest, came near,
2and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Please let our supplication be presented before you, and pray for us to the LORD your God, even for all this remnant, for we are left but a few of many, as your eyes see us,
3that the LORD your God may show us the way in which we should walk, and the things that we should do.”
4Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the LORD your God according to your words; and it will happen that whatever thing the LORD answers you, I will declare it to you. I will keep nothing back from you.”
5Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness among us, if we don’t do according to all the word with which the LORD your God sends you to tell us.
6Whether it is good, or whether it is bad, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send you; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.”
7After ten days, the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah.
8Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,
9and said to them, “The LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before him, says:
10‘If you will still live in this land, then I will build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I grieve over the distress that I have brought on you.
11Don’t be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Don’t be afraid of him,’ says the LORD, ‘for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
12I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you, and cause you to return to your own land.
13“‘But if you say, “We will not dwell in this land,” so that you don’t obey the LORD your God’s voice,
14saying, “No, but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we will see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there we will dwell;”’
15now therefore hear the LORD’s word, O remnant of Judah! The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘If you indeed set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to live there,
16then it will happen that the sword, which you fear, will overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine, about which you are afraid, will follow close behind you there in Egypt; and you will die there.
17So will it be with all the men who set their faces to go into Egypt to live there. They will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. None of them will remain or escape from the evil that I will bring on them.’
18For the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘As my anger and my wrath has been poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so my wrath will be poured out on you, when you enter into Egypt; and you will be an object of horror, an astonishment, a curse, and a reproach; and you will see this place no more.’
19“The LORD has spoken concerning you, remnant of Judah, ‘Don’t go into Egypt!’ Know certainly that I have testified to you today.
20For you have dealt deceitfully against your own souls; for you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God; and according to all that the LORD our God says, so declare to us, and we will do it.’
21I have declared it to you today; but you have not obeyed the LORD your God’s voice in anything for which he has sent me to you.
22Now therefore know certainly that you will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence in the place where you desire to go to live.”
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Theme
The remnant of Judah approaches Jeremiah seeking divine guidance about whether to flee to Egypt for safety. They solemnly promise to obey whatever God commands, whether favorable or not. After ten days, God responds through Jeremiah with a clear directive: remain in the land and trust in His protection, for those who flee to Egypt will face the very disasters they seek to escape—sword, famine, and pestilence.
Context
This chapter follows the assassination of Gedaliah and precedes the people's disobedient flight to Egypt despite God's clear warning.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3 The Remnant's Request for Guidance All the people, from leaders to common folk, ask Jeremiah to seek God's direction for their future.
- 4-6 Jeremiah's Agreement and the People's Vow Jeremiah agrees to pray and relay God's complete message, while the people vow to obey regardless of the answer.
- 7-12 God's Promise for Those Who Remain After ten days, God promises blessing, protection, and mercy to those who stay in the land and trust Him.
- 13-18 God's Warning Against Going to Egypt Those who flee to Egypt will encounter the very calamities they fear—war, famine, and death.
Warning Against Going to Egypt
42:1–42:22 prophecy speech warning
The remnant asks Jeremiah to seek God's guidance about fleeing to Egypt, promising obedience. God responds through Jeremiah, warning them to stay in the land and not fear Babylon, promising protection if they remain but judgment if they go to Egypt.
person_contrast
Johanan's request for divine guidance through Jeremiah ironically precedes his complete rejection of God's answer, revealing the futility of seeking prophecy while predetermined to disobey.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Jeremiah 42:1 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 43:5 Lexical
But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from al…
Jeremiah 41:13 Lexical
Now when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were…
Jeremiah 43:4 Lexical
So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey the LORD’s voice, to d…
2 Kings 25:23 Lexical
Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor,…
Jeremiah 41:11 Lexical
But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, heard of all the evil that Ish…
Jeremiah 42:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 37:3 Lexical
Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremi…
Ezra 9:8 Lexical
Now for a little moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a st…
Daniel 9:20 Lexical
While I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication bef…
Genesis 20:7 Lexical
Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t re…
1 Kings 13:6 Lexical
The king answered the man of God, “Now intercede for the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may b…
Jeremiah 42:4 1 reference
Jeremiah 42:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 41:13 Lexical
Now when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were…
Jeremiah 43:4 Lexical
So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey the LORD’s voice, to d…
2 Kings 25:23 Lexical
Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor,…
Jeremiah 41:11 Lexical
But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, heard of all the evil that Ish…
Jeremiah 40:13 Lexical
Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpa…
Jeremiah 42:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 1:10 Lexical
Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overt…
Jeremiah 24:6 Lexical
For I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land. I will build them, and not pull them…
Jeremiah 31:28 Lexical
It will happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and…
Jeremiah 45:4 Lexical
“You shall tell him, the LORD says: ‘Behold, that which I have built, I will break down, and that which I have planted I…
Ezekiel 36:36 Lexical
Then the nations that are left around you will know that I, the LORD, have built the ruined places and planted that whic…
Jeremiah 42:14 1 reference
Jeremiah 42:16 1 reference
Jeremiah 42:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 44:14 Lexical
so that none of the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to live there, will escape or be left to retu…
Jeremiah 44:28 Lexical
Those who escape the sword will return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah few in number. All the remnant of…
Jeremiah 27:13 Lexical
Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD has spoken concer…
1 Chronicles 21:12 Lexical
either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes…
Jeremiah 27:8 Lexical
“‘“‘It will happen that I will punish the nation and the kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar king of Ba…
Jeremiah 42:18 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 44:12 Lexical
I will take the remnant of Judah that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to live there, and they will all…
Jeremiah 7:20 Lexical
Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Behold, my anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, on man, on animal, on the…
Jeremiah 29:18 Lexical
I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed ba…
Jeremiah 49:13 Lexical
For I have sworn by myself,” says the LORD, “that Bozrah will become an astonishment, a reproach, a waste, and a curse.…
2 Kings 22:19 Lexical
because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place a…
Jeremiah 42:22 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 32:36 Lexical
Now therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning this city, about which you say, “It is given into the hand of…
1 Chronicles 21:12 Lexical
either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes…
Jeremiah 27:13 Lexical
Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD has spoken concer…
Jeremiah 27:8 Lexical
“‘“‘It will happen that I will punish the nation and the kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar king of Ba…
Jeremiah 21:9 Lexical
He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he who goes out and passes…
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