Jeremiah 42:1

1 Then all the military commanders, Yochanan the son of Kareach, Y'zanyah the son of Hosha'yah and all the people, from the least to the greatest, approached

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 Then all the military commanders, Yochanan the son of Kareach, Y'zanyah the son of Hosha'yah and all the people, from the least to the greatest, approached

2 and said to Yirmeyahu the prophet, "I beg you, approve our request: pray for us to ADONAI your God for all of this remnant. For, while once we were numerous, only a few of us are left, as you can see.

3 Pray that ADONAI your God will tell us what direction to take and what to do."

4 Yirmeyahu the prophet said to them: "I hear you. All right, I will pray to ADONAI your God, as you have asked. And whatever ADONAI answers you, I will tell you; I will withhold nothing from you."

5 They said to Yirmeyahu, "May ADONAI be a true and faithful witness against us if we fail to do any part of what ADONAI your God gives you to tell us.