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Jeremiah 42

22 verses

TL;DR

Jeremiah relays God's warning to Judah's remnant: stay in Judah or face judgment, and those who plan to flee to Egypt will die by sword, famine, and pestilence.

Summary

Jeremiah receives a plea from the captains, Johanan, and Jezaniah to pray for the remaining people of Judah. He promises to deliver the Lord's response and declares the message. After ten days, the Lord commands Jeremiah to warn the remnant: if they remain, He will build and protect them, repenting of past harm. He urges them not to fear Babylon because He will save them. Conversely, those who decide to flee to Egypt will face the sword, famine, and pestilence there, resulting in death. Jeremiah emphasizes that the warning was given today and that disobedience will lead to disaster. The passage underscores the necessity of obedience to God's instruction.

Outline
  1. Remnant seeks Jeremiah's intercession and promises of disclosure
  2. God commands Jeremiah to speak warnings and assurances to Judah
  3. Judah warned against fleeing to Egypt; consequences of disobedience highlighted
Themes
Obedience to God's directiveJudgment and divine protectionFaith versus fear in the face of exile
Keywords
supplicationobediencejudgmentfaithfulnessrepentanceexiledeliverance
People
JeremiahJohanan son of KareahJezaniah son of Hoshaiahcaptains of the forcesremnant of Judahking of Babylon
Places
JudahJerusalemEgypt
Things
word of the LORDswordfaminepestilenceking of Babylonthe trumpet
Key Verses
  • Jeremiah 42:10: God promises to build and not pull down Judah if they remain.
  • Jeremiah 42:11: Reassures them not to fear the king of Babylon, emphasizing divine protection.
  • Jeremiah 42:15: Introduces the dire consequences of fleeing to Egypt.
Questions
  • What does Jeremiah’s promise of protection tell us about God’s character?
  • How does the warning against fleeing to Egypt reflect the relationship between obedience and divine judgment?
  • In what ways does the passage illustrate the difference between fear of human rulers versus trust in God?
  • What modern parallels can be drawn regarding the consequences of disobedience to divine instruction?
Sentiment

negative
The tone is cautionary and foreboding, emphasizing judgment for disobedience.