After Jerusalem's fall, a remnant of Judah, led by Johanan, seeks Jeremiah's prayer for divine guidance on where to settle, promising obedience. The LORD, through Jeremiah, commands them to remain in Judah, assuring protection from Babylon and restoration. However, He warns that going to Egypt, driven by fear of war and famine, will result in their death by those very evils, as His wrath will pursue them there. The LORD reveals their hearts were dissembling, as they had already intended to disobey.
Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached
Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes.
“I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you request, and I will tell you everything that the LORD answers; I will not withhold a word from you.”
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us.
Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us, for we will obey the voice of the LORD our God!”
‘If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I will relent of the disaster I have brought upon you.
Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear; do not be afraid of him, declares the LORD, for I am with you to save you and deliver you from him.
and if you say, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt and live there, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for bread,’
then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah! This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and reside there,
So all who resolve to go to Egypt to reside there will die by sword and famine and plague. Not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring upon them.’
For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Just as My anger and wrath were poured out on the residents of Jerusalem, so will My wrath be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will become an object of cursing and horror, of vilification and disgrace, and you will never see this place again.’
For you have deceived yourselves by sending me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray to the LORD our God on our behalf, and as for all that the LORD our God says, tell it to us and we will do it.’
Now therefore, know for sure that by sword and famine and plague you will die in the place where you desire to go to reside.”
Study Notes for Jeremiah 42
Verse 1
This chapter follows the assassination of Gedaliah (41:2) and details the remnant's desire for direction. Johanan and the captains represent the surviving military and civil leadership left in Judah.
Verse 2
The group refers to themselves as a 'remnant,' recognizing their drastically reduced numbers following the Babylonian siege and deportations. They appeal to Jeremiah because of his established relationship with the LORD.
Verse 4
Jeremiah assures them of his prophetic integrity, promising to deliver God’s answer completely, whether the message is favorable or difficult (cf. Ezek. 2:7).
Verse 5
The people swear a solemn oath, calling God as a 'true and faithful witness.' This covenantal pledge makes their subsequent disobedience (revealed in Ch. 43) a severe act of rebellion and perjury.
Verse 7
The ten-day wait demonstrates the sovereignty of God’s revelation. Jeremiah did not deliver an immediate, convenient answer but waited patiently for the authentic word of the LORD.
Verse 10
The imagery of 'build' and 'plant' reverses the language of judgment that dominated Jeremiah’s early ministry (Jer. 1:10). This promise offers restoration and security if they trust God’s sovereignty over Babylon.
Verse 11
The LORD directly addresses their primary motivation for fleeing: fear of Babylonian reprisal. God promises divine protection, asserting that the fear of man should not override obedience to God.
Verse 12
God promises to show them mercy by influencing Nebuchadnezzar (the king of Babylon) to be merciful toward them. This highlights God’s control over all earthly powers, even agents of judgment.
Verse 14
Egypt was historically viewed as a place of refuge, but relying on Egypt rather than God had been a consistent source of spiritual failure for Judah's leaders (cf. Isa. 30:1-3).
Verse 16
This is a profound statement of judgment: the very dangers they sought to escape (sword and famine) will follow them, demonstrating that safety is found only in obedience, not geography.
Verse 18
To enter Egypt is to step out of the promised land and into the zone of God’s 'anger and fury.' They will become an 'execration' (a cursed object), receiving the same judgment Jerusalem faced.
Verse 19
Jeremiah emphasizes that this warning is certain and final: 'know certainly that I have admonished you this day.' The choice is now clearly laid out.
Verse 20
Jeremiah exposes their hypocrisy. The leadership had already 'dissembled in their hearts' (acted deceitfully), meaning their request for prayer was merely an attempt to gain divine sanction for their own pre-determined plan to flee.
Verse 22
The final warning confirms the fatal consequences of their choice. They will die by the three elements of judgment (sword, famine, pestilence) in the place where they sought life.
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