Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryJeremiah 42

Jeremiah Agrees to Consult GodThis section describes how the surviving Jews, led by Johanan, came to Jeremiah for guidance from the Lord

v. 4: Jeremiah assured them that he would pray to God for them. He promised to deliver God’s answer exactly as he received it, without changing or hiding anything. This teaches that leaders and ministers should pray faithfully for others and share God’s truth with honesty, even when it is not easy (1 Samuel 12:23 ).

v. 5–6: The people made a solemn promise, calling on God as their witness, to obey whatever message He sent through Jeremiah. They declared, “Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord

Jeremiah's Address to the PeopleThis passage records the answer Jeremiah gave to the people after they asked him to seek the Lord

v. 8: When the answer came, Jeremiah spoke publicly to all the captains and people, from the least to the greatest. He faithfully delivered God’s message, just as he had promised .

v. 9–12: Jeremiah told them that God wanted them to stay in the land of Judah. God promised, “If you will still abide in this land, then I will build you, and not pull you down; and I will plant you, and not pluck you up” (Jeremiah 42:10 ). God said He was ready to show them mercy and protect them from the king of Babylon. They were not to be afraid, for God would be with them and cause even their enemies to show them kindness.

v. 13–18: But God also warned them not to go to Egypt. He saw that some of them were planning to leave Judah because they were afraid of more war and famine. But God said that if they went to Egypt, the very troubles they feared—war, famine, and disease—would follow them there. God’s anger would come upon them in Egypt, just as it had in Jerusalem, and they would become a curse and a warning to others (Jeremiah 42:16–18 ).

v. 19–22: Jeremiah made it clear that he had faithfully given them God’s message. He warned them not to pretend they wanted God’s will but then do the opposite. If they disobeyed and went to Egypt, they would die there by the sword, famine, and pestilence. Jeremiah told them, “You shall die in the place whither you desire to go and to sojourn” (Jeremiah 42:22 ). This teaches us that we bring trouble on ourselves when we refuse to trust and obey God’s word.