Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 6. Men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters] See the note on chap. xli. 10. It is truly surprising that the Chaldeans should have left behind any of the royal family of Judah! But, 1. Perhaps they knew not there were any. 2. If they did know, they might think, being children of concubines, they could not inherit. Or, 3. That being females, they were not eligible. And they had taken care to seize all Zedekiah's sons, and slay them before his eyes.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Johanan desires Jeremiah to ask counsel of God. (Jer. 42:1-6) They ar assured of safety in Judea, but of destruction in Egypt. (Jer. 42:7-22)
Jer. 42:1-6 To serve a turn, Jeremiah is sought out, and the captain ask for his assistance. In every difficult, doubtful case, we must loo to God for direction; and we may still, in faith, pray to be guided by a spirit of wisdom in our hearts, and the leadings of Providence. We d not truly desire to know the mind of God, if we do not fully resolve to comply with it when we know it. Many promise to do what the Lor requires, while they hope to have their pride flattered, and their favourite lusts spared. Yet something betrays the state of their hearts.
Jer. 42:7-22 If we would know the mind of the Lord in doubtful cases we must wait as well as pray. God is ever ready to return in mercy to those he has afflicted; and he never rejects any who rely on his promises. He has declared enough to silence even the causeless fears of his people, which discourge them in the way of duty. Whatever loss of suffering we may fear from obedience, is provided against in God' word; and he will protect and deliver all who trust in him and serv him. It is folly to quit our place, especially to quit a holy land because we meet with trouble in it. And the evils we think to escape by sin, we certainly bring upon ourselves. We may apply this to the commo troubles of life; and those who think to avoid them by changing their place, will find that the grievances common to men will meet the wherever they go. Sinners who dissemble with God in solemn profession especially should be rebuked with sharpness; for their actions spea more plainly than words. We know not what is good for ourselves; an what we are most fond of, and have our hearts most set upon, ofte proves hurtful, and sometimes fatal _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew את853 הגברים1397 ואת853 הנשׁים802 ואת853 הטף2945 ואת853 בנות1323 המלך4428 ואת853 כל3605 הנפשׁ5315 אשׁר834 הניח3240 נבוזראדן5018 רב7227 טבחים2876 את854 גדליהו1436 בן1121 אחיקם296 בן1121 שׁפן8227 ואת853 ירמיהו3414 הנביא5030 ואת853 ברוך1263 בן1121 נריהו׃5374
