Jer 42:2-6 | JFB | STEP | 2. Jeremiah-- He probably was one of the number carried off from Mizpah, and dwelt with Johanan ( ). Hence the expression is, "came near" ( ), not "sent." Let ... supplication be accepted-- literally, "fall" (see on ; ). pray for us-- ( ; ; ). thy God-- ( ). The Jews use this form to express their belief in the peculiar relation in which Jeremiah stood to God as His accredited prophet. Jeremiah in his reply reminds them that God is their God ("your God") as well as his as being the covenant people ( ). They in turn acknowledge this in , "the Lord our God." few of many-- as had been foretold ( ).

‏ Jeremiah 42:2-6

CHAPTER 42 Jr 42:1-22. The Jews and Johanan Inquire of God, through Jeremiah, as to Going to Egypt, Promising Obedience to His Will. Their Safety on Condition of Staying in Judea, and Their Destruction in the Event of Going to Egypt, Are Foretold. Their Hypocrisy in Asking for Counsel Which They Meant Not to Follow, if Contrary to Their Own Determination, Is Reproved.

2. Jeremiah--He probably was one of the number carried off from Mizpah, and dwelt with Johanan (Jr 41:16). Hence the expression is, "came near" (Jr 42:1), not "sent."

Let ... supplication be accepted--literally, "fall" (see on Jr 36:7; Jr 37:20).

pray for us--(Ge 20:7; Is 37:4; Jas 5:16).

thy God--(Jr 42:5). The Jews use this form to express their belief in the peculiar relation in which Jeremiah stood to God as His accredited prophet. Jeremiah in his reply reminds them that God is their God ("your God") as well as his as being the covenant people (Jr 42:4). They in turn acknowledge this in Jr 42:6, "the Lord our God."

few of many--as had been foretold (Le 26:22).

3. They consulted God, like many, not so much to know what was right, as wishing Him to authorize what they had already determined on, whether agreeable to His will or not. So Ahab in consulting Micaiah (1Ki 22:13). Compare Jeremiah's answer (Jr 42:4) with Micaiah's (1Ki 22:14).

4. I have heard--that is, I accede to your request.

your God--Being His by adoption, ye are not your own, and are bound to whatever He wills (Ex 19:5, 6; 1Co 6:19, 20).

answer you--that is, through me.

keep nothing back--(1Sa 3:18; Ac 20:20).

5. Lord be a true ... witness--(Ge 31:50; Psa 89:37; Re 1:5; 3:14; 19:11).

6. evil--not moral evil, which God cannot command (Jas 1:13), but what may be disagreeable and hard to us. Piety obeys God, without questioning, at all costs. See the instance defective in this, that it obeyed only so far as was agreeable to itself (1Sa 15:3, 9, 13-15, 20-23).