Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 42:3
That the LORD thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
3. that the Lord thy God may shew us ] They make up their minds to flee into Egypt, and only after they have done this, proceed to enquire God’s will. Hence we cannot acquit them of hypocrisy. Cp. Ahab in 1Ki 22:3 ff.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 3. That the Lord thy God may show us] They all thought there was no safety in Jerusalem or in Judea, and therefore determined to leave the land: but they did not know which might be the safest direction to take; for though they inclined to Egypt, yet they wished to know the mind of God on that point.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The thing they would have him pray to God for, was direction what they should do in this desolate state into which God had brought them. What could be more pious? a practice founded upon a Divine precept, and encouraged by a promise, Pro 3:6, Acknowledge him in all thy ways, and he shall direct thy steps. But we may well apply here what God had said to their forefathers, Deu 5:29, when they had so freely promised their obedience to the law of God, Oh that there were such an heart in them, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. They consulted God, likemany, not so much to know what was right, as wishing Him to authorizewhat they had already determined on, whether agreeable to His will ornot. So Ahab in consulting Micaiah (1Ki22:13). Compare Jeremiah’s answer (Jer42:4) with Micaiah’s (1Ki22:14).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That the Lord thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk,…. 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
They came then, as it has been stated, as though they were ready to obey; and then they professed humility, because they did not wish to do anything rashly, but only to follow where God called them. Had they spoken from the heart, it would have been a rare virtue thus to-have fled in perplexities to God, and to have allowed themselves to be ruled by his word; but we shall see that it was all a pre-tence. We have then here set before us the hypocrisy of that people, so that we may learn that whenever we ask what pleases God, we should bring a pure and sincere heart, so that nothing may prevent or hinder us immediately to embrace whatever God may command us. But their hypocrisy is discovered to have been still baser, when the Prophet adds,
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Jer 42:3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
Ver. 3. That the Lord thy God may show us the way. ] But they had set themselves in the way to Egypt before they came with this request to the prophet: why went they else to Goruth Chimham, the road toward Egypt? Jer 41:17 why were they also so peremptory, when they knew God’s mind to the contrary? Jer 43:7
And the thing that we may do.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thy. See note on Jer 42:2; but here the reading “our” is supported by several codices and one early printed edition.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jer 6:16, Deu 5:26, Deu 5:29, 1Ki 8:36, Ezr 8:21, Psa 25:4, Psa 25:5, Psa 27:11, Psa 86:11, Psa 143:8-10, Pro 3:6, Isa 2:3, Mic 4:2, Mar 12:13, Mar 12:14
Reciprocal: Exo 18:20 – the way 1Ki 22:16 – that thou tell 2Ch 6:27 – good way 2Ch 18:5 – Shall we go Jer 41:11 – Johanan Jer 43:1 – all the words Mat 22:17 – What Luk 20:21 – Master Joh 6:28 – What
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 42:3. They professed to desire divine guidance in their way and in all their general conduct. To obtain such assistance they asked Jeremiah to pray God for them, he being a faithful prophet and servant of the Lord. Such a request would be praiseworthy were it coming from the heart; we shall see whether it was or not.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
42:3 That the LORD thy God may show us the way in which we may walk, and the thing that we may {a} do.
(a) This declares the nature of hypocrites who would know of God’s word what they should do, but will not follow it, unless it agrees with that thing which they have purposed to do.