Jeremiah 42:1

1 And all the princes of (the) warriors nighed, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah, the son of Hoshaiah, and the residue common people, from a little man unto a great man. (And all the leaders of the warriors, including Johanan, the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah, the son of Hoshaiah, along with the common people, from a little man unto a great man, came to the prophet Jeremiah.)

Jeremiah 42:1 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 42:1

Then all the captains of the forces
Having taken up their residence at the habitation of Chimham, in their way to Egypt, where they were desirous of going, and being afraid of the Chaldeans, as they pretended: and Johanan the son of Kareah;
or, "even Johanan" ^F19; especially and particularly he, the principal captain and chief spokesman in this affair: and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah;
said to be the son of a Maachathite, ( Jeremiah 40:8 ) ; and all the people from the least even unto the greatest:
a phrase expressive of the universality of them in the strongest terms: came near;
that is, to Jeremiah; who either was at Mizpah when Gedaliah was slain, but preserved by the Lord; and though carried captive by Ishmael with the rest, was rescued by Johanan; and now along with him: or rather after he had been with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and made a short stay there, he went to Anathoth, and there abode till now; and when Johanan took those that were left at Mizpah, he gathered together all the rest of the Jews in different places to him, in order to go to Egypt, and among the rest the Prophet Jeremiah; for it can hardly be thought, had he been at Mizpah when Ishmael was there, he would have escaped without a miracle.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (Nnxwyw) "imprimis Johanan", Schmidt; "nempe Johanan", Piscator, Grotius.

Jeremiah 42:1 In-Context

1 And all the princes of (the) warriors nighed, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah, the son of Hoshaiah, and the residue common people, from a little man unto a great man. (And all the leaders of the warriors, including Johanan, the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah, the son of Hoshaiah, along with the common people, from a little man unto a great man, came to the prophet Jeremiah.)

2 And they said to Jeremy, the prophet, Our prayer fall in thy sight, and pray thou for us to thy Lord God, for all these remnants; for we be left a few of many, as thine eyes behold us; (And they said to the prophet Jeremiah, May our prayer come before thee, and thou pray for us to the Lord thy God, yea, for all these remnants; for we who be left be but a few of many, as thine eyes do see;)

3 and thy Lord God tell to us the way, by which we shall go, and the word which we shall do. (and the Lord thy God tell us the way, by which we shall go, and everything that we should do.)

4 Forsooth Jeremy, the prophet, said to them, I have heard (you); lo! I pray to our Lord God, by your words (lo! I shall pray to the Lord your God, with your words); I shall show to you each word, whatever word the Lord shall answer to me, neither I shall hide anything from you.

5 And they said to Jeremy, The Lord be (a) witness of truth and of faith betwixt us; if not by each word, in which thy Lord God shall send thee to us, so we shall do, (And they said to Jeremiah, May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not do each command, which the Lord thy God shall give to thee, for us,)