Jeremiah 42:3

3 Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.”

Jeremiah 42:3 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 42:3

That the Lord thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk,
&c.] Not the way of their duty as to religious worship, or their moral conversation, which was the way of God's commandments, and had been shown them, and they knew it; but which way they should steer their course for their safety; they had departed from Mizpah of themselves, and had taken up their dwelling at Geruthchimham, in the way to Egypt; whither they had set their faces, and where their hearts were, only they wanted the Lord's sanction for it, pretending they would be directed by him: and the thing that we should do;
the steps they should take in order to proceed; and what they should do before they left their own country, and went into another.

Jeremiah 42:3 In-Context

1 Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached

2 Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes.

3 Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.”

4 “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you request, and I will tell you everything that the LORD answers. I will not withhold a word from you.”

5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us.