Jeremiah 42

42:1-3 The party of Judean guerrillas and the people they had rescued (41:16) came to Jeremiah with what sounded like a sincere request for guidance.

42:4 The first phrase, All right (literally I heard), indicates that Jeremiah questioned the sincerity of the Judean group led by Johanan. Still, the prophet agreed to pray for divine guidance and to give them the full content of the Lord’s answer.

42:5-6 Perhaps these people sensed that Jeremiah doubted their sincerity. They responded by making a solemn oath: They committed to obey the Lord’s instructions and to submit to punishment if they failed to keep the oath. They were confident that the Lord’s answer would be what they wanted to hear.

42:10-12 The Lord replied that he wanted the people to stay in Judea and settle down, and he would plant them in the land (see 1:10). Judea’s time of judgment was over. • For I am with you and will save you: The Lord was calling the remnant of Judea to trust him for protection against the king of Babylon.

42:13-22 Jeremiah had already prophesied Egypt’s destiny; it would be destroyed by the Babylonians (46:2-26). This remnant of Judah would walk into the path of the Lord’s judgment if they continued on to Egypt.

42:21 Like their ancestors, this group of people from Judah trusted in the Egyptians to protect them, rather than in the Lord.