Jer 44:13 | KingComments | STEP | The punishments presented to them by the LORD in these verses are the result of their self-willed, wrong choice. When the punishments come, they can only blame themselves for it. Because they persist in their sins, the LORD will turn his face against them not for good, but for woe ( ). Instead of building them up and protecting them, He will cut off all Judah. It is about people who “set their mind” on going to Egypt to stay there as strangers ( ). Those who set their mind on something are beyond correction. Therefore, the judgment on them must be that they will all perish in Egypt by the sword and famine, from small to great. Instead of being a blessing to their surroundings, their surroundings will curse and terrify them, because they bring a curse and a reproach upon their surroundings. The Egyptians will see the Jews punished by the LORD, that it will be in the same way He punished them in Jerusalem ( ). The LORD knows where His people are and strikes them where they are with the sword, famine and pestilence. No one will escape His judgment ( ). They have fled with the thought of finding temporary safety in Egypt. It is only to stay there as a stranger, they believe. There is no intention of settling there permanently. No, they long, when the coast is clear again, to return to Judah and live there again. But the LORD says: “None will return.” Yet we see then that even here the LORD will allow some to escape. He is maintaining a remnant according to the election of grace. Possibly this involves some who were taken to Egypt against their will.

‏ Jeremiah 44:13

Warning of Punishment

The punishments presented to them by the LORD in these verses are the result of their self-willed, wrong choice. When the punishments come, they can only blame themselves for it. Because they persist in their sins, the LORD will turn his face against them not for good, but for woe (Jer 44:11). Instead of building them up and protecting them, He will cut off all Judah.

It is about people who “set their mind” on going to Egypt to stay there as strangers (Jer 44:12). Those who set their mind on something are beyond correction. Therefore, the judgment on them must be that they will all perish in Egypt by the sword and famine, from small to great. Instead of being a blessing to their surroundings, their surroundings will curse and terrify them, because they bring a curse and a reproach upon their surroundings.

The Egyptians will see the Jews punished by the LORD, that it will be in the same way He punished them in Jerusalem (Jer 44:13). The LORD knows where His people are and strikes them where they are with the sword, famine and pestilence. No one will escape His judgment (Jer 44:14). They have fled with the thought of finding temporary safety in Egypt. It is only to stay there as a stranger, they believe. There is no intention of settling there permanently. No, they long, when the coast is clear again, to return to Judah and live there again.

But the LORD says: “None will return.” Yet we see then that even here the LORD will allow some to escape. He is maintaining a remnant according to the election of grace. Possibly this involves some who were taken to Egypt against their will.