Yirmeyah 42:1

1 2 Then all the army officers, and Yochanan Ben Kareach, and Yezanyah Ben Hoshayah, and kol HaAm from the katon even unto the gadol, came near,

Yirmeyah 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.

Yirmeyah 42:1 In-Context

1 2 Then all the army officers, and Yochanan Ben Kareach, and Yezanyah Ben Hoshayah, and kol HaAm from the katon even unto the gadol, came near,

2 And said unto Yirmeyah HaNavi, Let, now, techinnatenu (our supplication) be accepted before thee, and pray on our behalf unto Hashem Eloheicha, even on behalf of all this she’erit (remnant); (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes canst see;)

3 That Hashem Eloheicha may show us the derech wherein we should walk, and the thing that we should do.

4 Then Yirmeyah HaNavi said unto them, I have heard you; hineni, I will pray unto Hashem Eloheichem according to your devarim; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing Hashem shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.

5 Then they said to Yirmeyah, Hashem be an ed emes v’ne’eman (true and faithful witness) against us, if we do not act even according to all things for the which Hashem Eloheicha shall send thee to us.