Jeremiah 42:1-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 42:1-6

We have reason to wonder how Jeremiah the prophet escaped the sword of Ishmael; it seems he did escape, and it was not the first time that the Lord hid him. It is strange also that in these violent turns he was not consulted before now, and his advice asked and taken. But it should seem as if they knew not that a prophet was among them. Though this people were as brands plucked out of the fire, yet have they not returned to the Lord. This people has a revolting and a rebellious heart; and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 42:7-22

We have here the answer which Jeremiah was sent to deliver to those who employed him to ask counsel of God. I. It did not come immediately, not till ten days after, Jer. 42:7. They were thus long held in suspense, perhaps, to punish them for their hypocrisy or to show that Jeremiah did not speak of himself, nor what he would, for he could not speak when he would, but must wait for instructions. However, it teaches us to continue waiting upon God for direction in our way. The vision is for an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 42:1

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" F19 ויוחנן "imprimis Johanan", Schmidt; "nempe Johanan", Piscator, Grotius. ; especially and particularly he, the principal captain and chief spokesman in this affair: and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah ; said to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 42:2

And said unto Jeremiah the prophet ,.... That is, some one of them, as the mouth of the whole body, very probably Johanan: let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee ; they treat the prophet with great respect, and are very humble and submissive, as if they were very hearty and sincere in their request: and pray for us unto the Lord thy God ; as if they were conscious of their own inability to pray for themselves, and of their unworthiness to call God their God;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 42:3

That the Lord thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk ,.... Not the way of their duty as to religious worship, or their moral conversation, which was the way of God's commandments, and had been shown them, and they knew it; but which way they should steer their course for their safety; they had departed from Mizpah of themselves, and had taken up their dwelling at Geruthchimham, in the way to Egypt; whither they had set their faces, and where their hearts were, only they wanted the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 42:4

Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you ,.... He took notice of what they said to him, and found himself disposed to comply with their request, and readily granted it: behold, I will pray unto the Lord your God, according to your words ; be an intercessor for them; use his interest with his God, and their God; and, on account of relation, might expect to be heard; whom he would humbly entreat to direct what they should do, as they desired: and it shall come to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 42:5

Then they said to Jeremiah, the Lord be a true and faithful witness between us ,.... Which is the form of an oath; a solemn appeal to God, as a witness to what they were about to say, and to the sincerity of their hearts in it; who is true to his word, and faithful to his promises and threatenings; and who bears a true and faithful testimony, and will do what is just and right; and yet these people never intended to perform what they promised; which is a most shocking piece of atheism in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 42:6

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 42:7

And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah. Abarbinel thinks it was on the tenth day of the seventh month, the day of atonement, that the answer was returned; but it is clear, from the context, that it was ten days from the time the Jews applied to the prophet to inquire of the Lord for them, and he promised to do it, that this word came from the Lord to him; not that he was praying all this while, as some think; but, having spread the case before the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 42:8

Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah ,.... That is, Jeremiah, as soon as he had received the answer from the Lord, called to Johanan; who, after the death of Gedaliah, was a person of the greatest authority, and had the command of the people, to come unto him, and hear what it was: he either called to him vocally and by name; or he sent a proper messenger to him, to meet him at some convenient place, to receive it; and not him only, but all the captains of the forces which were with... read more

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