Jeremiah 42 - Introduction

Jeremiah 42:1 to Jeremiah 43:7. Migration of the people to Egypt in spite of Jeremiah's protest

The narrative here is generally admitted to be a trustworthy extract from Baruch's memoirs. Du., however, excepts from this judgement Jeremiah's reply (Jeremiah 42:7), as providing, according to him, an irresistible opportunity to a supplementer to add extensively to the genuine nucleus which he admits to exist in Jeremiah 42:19.

The section may be summarized as follows.

(i) Jeremiah 42:1-6. The captains and people beg Jeremiah to pray to the Lord on behalf of those who remain for guidance as to their course of action. The prophet undertakes to do so, while the people swear that they will abide by the result, whether it be for good or for evil. (ii) Jeremiah 42:7. After ten days Jeremiah summons the applicants and announces that if they abide in the land, Jehovah will prosper them, as He has now changed His attitude towards them. They need not fear further hurt from Nebuchadnezzar. If on the other hand they insist on going to Egypt with a view to security, then sword and famine shall follow them there with fatal results to all. The prophet adds that they are not in earnest in asserting that they will abide by the Divine message, whatever it prove to be. As disobedience has been their characteristic in past time, so will it be now, and in consequence they shall be consumed by sword, famine, and pestilence. (iii) Jeremiah 43:1-7. The prophet's hearers refuse to believe that the message comes from Jehovah, but attribute it to Baruch, who, they say, desires to have them carried away by the Chaldaeans to Babylon. Accordingly, the captains take all the people to Tahpanhes in Egypt.