Jeremiah 15:2

2 When they ask you where they should go, say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: Those who are destined to die will die. Those who are destined to die in wars will die in wars. Those who are destined to die in famines will die in famines. Those who are destined to die in captivity will die in captivity.'

Jeremiah 15:2 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 15:2

And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee
As doubtless they will, when this message is brought to them: whither shall we go forth?
in a jeering scornful manner, not believing that this would be their case: then thou shall tell them, thus saith the Lord, such as are for death,
to death;
such as were appointed to death, or to die by the pestilence, which is often signified by death; they shall go forth unto it; or it shall meet them, and seize upon them, and take them away: and such as are for the sword, to the sword;
who are appointed to die by the sword of the enemy, into whose hands they should fall by attempting to escape out of the city, shall perish by it: and such as are for the famine, to the famine;
such as are appointed to die by that, shall die of it in the city, where they shall be besieged, and not be able to get out to fetch in any provisions, and where none can be brought, because of the enemy: and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity;
such as are spared from the pestilence, sword, and famine, and are designed to be carried captive into a strange land, shall be taken and carried thither; nor will it be in their power, or in any other's, to hinder any of the above things, to which they are appointed of God. According to the Jews, the latter of these is more grievous than the former; as the sword than death, and famine than the sword, so captivity than them all {w}.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 T. Bab Bava Bathra, fol. 8. 2.

Jeremiah 15:2 In-Context

1 Then the LORD said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel were standing in front of me, I would not feel sorry for these people. Send them away from me, and let them go.
2 When they ask you where they should go, say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: Those who are destined to die will die. Those who are destined to die in wars will die in wars. Those who are destined to die in famines will die in famines. Those who are destined to die in captivity will die in captivity.'
3 "I will devise four ways to punish them," declares the LORD. "I will send swords to kill, dogs to drag away, and birds and animals to devour and destroy.
4 I will make these people a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms on the earth. This will happen because of what Judah's King Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, did in Jerusalem.
5 No one will take pity on you, Jerusalem. No one will mourn for you. No one will bother to ask how you are doing.
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