Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Jeremiah · Chapter 42
CHAP. XLII.
THis whole Chapter, and the next, is one continued History, shewing the addresses of Johanan, and of the other Captains to Ieremiah, in deep dissimulation, desiring him to pray for them, and to consult with the Lord, and promising, with calling God to witnesse, that whatsoever answer he should return, whether pleasing or displeasing, which they meant by good or evill, they would imbrace it, and do accordingly: But Ieremiab having prayed, and within ten dayes received answer, that they should continue in their own land, and not go into Egypt, the Lords protection being promised, if they obeyed, and his inclining of Nebuchadnezzars heart to favour them, notwithstanding the cruelty of late exercised against the Governour by him set up, and his Caldees also left there for a Guard unto them, that were all slain: but contrariwise if against the revealed will of God they went into Egypt, terrible destruction should be fall them. And this he presseth home unto them, as seeing by their countenances what they were bent to do, to the end of this 43. Chapter. And as the Prophet suspected, which made him to use so many words to deter them therefrom; so it came to passe, as is shewed Chapter 43. For they would not believe, that Chap. 43.it was the Word of the Lord which he spake, but that Baruch set him on thus to speak, and therefore they immediately went away, and took both him and Baruch, and all the people that were yet in Judea with them into Egypt, and came to Taphanes, verse 7. which was the chief City of Egypt, where Pharoah his Vers. 7.Court was, verse 9. being otherwise called Tanis, according to Ierom. But Psal. 78. 12. it is said, that God did his wonders in the field of Zoan; whereby it may rather be gathered, that it was then so called. They being come to this City, Ieremiah had a word from the Lord, to go and hide certain stones near to Pharoah's house; and then having done this in the sight of the Jews, bidding him say, that Nebuchadnezzar should come and pitch his Tent there, and subdue Egypt, and Vers. 10.deliver such as are for death to death, such as for Captivity to Captivity, such as for the sword to the sword. That is, the Jewes especially, some perishing by pestilence Vers. 11.and famine, and some by the sword; for so Chap. 42. 17. it is threatned, that none of them should escape; and it is not to be thought but that he meant that the Egyptians should many of them be destroyed also; for he saith, That he would smite Egypt, and many of them should be carried away Captive, as the Jewes had been. And this was not now first prophesied of, but before also, Chap. 25. 19. and Isaiah 19. where also the City, in which Pharoah and his Counsellors kept, is called Zoan. But now it is threatned again for the Jewes sake, that in rebellion against the Lord came to dwell there, and were entertained. For the place where Ieremiah is bidden to hide these great stones, it was, In the Clay in the Brick kil. Vulgar Latin, In crypta, quae est sub muro Lateritio. Calvin, In Luto in Lacuni, expounding it of the place, where the materials for making Brick were taken out; but the first agreeth best with the Hebrew. He must take great stones, and hide them in Pharoahs Brickkill, where all his Brick was burnt, wherewith he built strong Walls and Fortifications against the enemy; to shew, that although the Jewes seemed to themselves to be hidden here from Nebuchadnezzar, whom they feared, yet he should with his forces even pierce thither, and destroy them most cruelly.
And he shall array himself with the Land of Egypt, as a Shepherd with his Vers. 12.garment, and go away in peace. That is, being full of the spoyles of Egypt, there being none there to hinder him either in taking, or carrying them away; as a Shepherd puts his Cloak about him to go into the open fields to keep his Flock, not fearing the cold weather, when he is thus armed against it; and being hindred by none from so doing, because he puts about him nothing but his own; so he intimateth hereby, that Egypt should be Nebuchadnezzars, given him of God, and he should go away so from it, after his coming, that he should continue Master of the whole Countrey, thenceforth coming and going there, as in a part of his Dominions, without any opposition or disturbance.
How or when Egypt was thus subdued, we read not in sacred History, but that both it, and all Kingdomes were subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, appeareth Dan. 2. 38. Dan. 4. 22. And Jos…phus saith, that five years after this he came Joseph. Antiq. l. 10. c. 11.against Celosyria, and having subdued it, brought also the Ammonites, and Moabites under, and then invaded Egypt; the King whereof being slain, he set up another there, and took the Jewes, that remained alive, away into Babylon. Thus the land of Judea lay desolate without Inhabitant 70 years, but the land of Israel had other Inhabitants brought and placed there by Salmanasar the King of Assyria, the time betwixt whose coming and Iudah's transmigration was 130 years, 6 moneths, 10 dayes.
Note from this History, that the wicked may make so much shew of piety, as Note. to desire to be prayed for by a Prophet, and promise to doe as the Lord shall direct; but when it comes to the tryall, they fail notoriously of performing what they made shew of; which condemneth all such, and withall those that regard not Prophets at all, or their directions,, but will have them consult; but having so done, and giving in what they find the will of God to be, they will only promise to doe what shall seem good in their own eyes, whereas God will be absolutely obeyed in all things, which he revealeth to be his Will by his servants the Prophets; and in the fail of Prophets, moved immediately by the Spirit, by his other Ministers and Priests, Mal. 2. 7.
Again, because Ieremiah had no answer, till the end of ten dayes, we must Note. with patience wait for an answer, when we seek unto the Lord, till he be pleased to give it.
Note also, that in the wicked the fear of men doth much over poise the fear Note. of God; because these men for fear of the Caldees feared not Gods threatnings: but he shall repent it too late whosoever doth so, when Gods Judgements come, for he shall not escape.
Lastly because verse 20 he saith, That they deceived their own souls, in saying, Note. that they would obey, and meant not so to doe; Note, that a man cannot deceive God by playing fast and loose with him, but he shall deceive himself so, as that the greatest hurt of his dissimulation shall redound to his own soul.