Jeremiah 42 -Jeremiah: Don’t go to Egypt

Jeremiah 42

Jeremiah: Don’t go to Egypt

People ask Jeremiah to pray

1People in what was left of Judah met with militia leaders, including Johanan and Jezaniah. 2Then the group went to see Jeremiah. They asked him, “Please, would you pray for us—for all of us left behind in this land? There used to be a lot of us. No more. There are just a few of us left now, as you can see. 3Ask the LORD your God what we should do now and where we should go.”

Jeremiah agrees to pray

4The prophet said, “Yes. I’ll take your request to the LORD your God. And I’ll tell you exactly what he says. I won't hide anything from you.”

5In return, the people said, “May the LORD your God stand as a witness against us if we don't do exactly what he says. 6No matter what he says whether it seems good or bad, we’ll do it. We know that when we do what he says, things will go well for us.”

God answers Jeremiah’s question

7Ten days later the LORD gave Jeremiah a message for the people. 8Jeremiah called for Johanna son of Kareah. He also invited the other militia commanders and all the people willing to come. 9Jeremiah said, “This is how the LORD and God of Israel answered your request:

10If you stay in the land, I’ll cover your back and defend you. I won’t drag you down. I’ll plant your roots deep in this land and I won’t let anyone take it away from you. I’m sorry I had to put you through that disaster.

Don’t fear Babylon

11Don't be afraid of the king of Babylon. I know you’ve been afraid of him in the past. That was then. This is now. You don't need to fear him anymore. I am with you. I am here to save you when you need saved. I’ll protect you if he tries to hurt you. 12Once again I’ll show you mercy. I’ll give you your homeland.

13But if you insist on leaving this land, you’ll be disobeying the instructions of the LORD your God. 14You’ll be making a huge mistake if you talk yourself into going to Egypt [1] where you say you can live in peace and won’t have to face: starvation, talk of war, and the sound of enemy battle trumpets.

15Listen to me. If you are determined to go to Egypt and settle there, living in that foreign land, 16the sword you fear will follow you. The starvation you dread will catch you. And the death you’re trying to avoid will run you down. 17Every one of you who goes to Egypt and settles there will die by the sword, starvation, or disease. You’ll have no one left in your family. None of them will survive the coming disaster. [2]

18You saw my wrath. I emptied it onto the people of Jerusalem. If you go to Egypt, you’ll see that wrath again. This time I’ll pour it all over you. You’ll become the people others insult and ridicule. What I do to you will horrify others. You’ll never see this land again.

Jeremiah’s stern warning

19Then Jeremiah told the people, “Don’t go to Egypt. Those of you who have been left behind in Judah need to stay here. Drum it into your heads: Today, I have given you this warning.

20Don't make a fatal mistake. People, you sent me to the LORD with a request. You wanted me to pray for you and to ask the LORD what you should do. 21Well, today I told you what to do. Here's the problem. You have a long history of never doing what the LORD your God tells you to do.

22Know this because it’s a fact. If you go to Egypt and settle there, you’ll die by sword, starvation, or disease. You’ll never get out of there alive."

Footnotes

Intro Notes to Jeremiah

142:14

The people were already headed south. They thought they were moving away from Babylon, but they were headed into the bullseye of Babylon’s next target. The other lands, like their homeland, had already been pacified—made peaceful. The war was over for those people. But in Egypt, the war hadn’t yet arrived.

242:17

There doesn’t seem to be any indication that this prophecy was fulfilled literally and completely, Nebuchadnezzar did invade Egypt, but his army faced very little resistance from the Egyptians. So, there was less bloodshed.