A Warning against Going to Egypt

1Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald), Jezaniah [Azariah]a son of Hoshaiah (YHWH as saved), and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached 2Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes. 3Pray that the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.”

4“I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} as you⁺ request, and I will tell you⁺ everything that the LORD {YHWH} answers. I will not withhold a word from you⁺.”

5Then they said to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed), “May the LORD {YHWH} be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} sends you⁺ to tell us. 6Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu} to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God!”

7After ten days the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed), 8and he summoned Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald), all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest.

9Jeremiah told them, “Thus says the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), to whom you⁺ sent me to present your⁺ petition: 10‘If you⁺ will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you⁺ up and not tear you down; I will plant you⁺ and not uproot you, for I will relent of the disaster I have brought upon you⁺.

11Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing), whom you⁺ now fear; do not be afraid of him, declares the LORD {YHWH}, for I am with you⁺ to save you⁺ and deliver you⁺ from him. 12And I will show you⁺ compassion, and he will have compassion on you⁺ and restore you⁺ to your⁺ own land.’

13But if you⁺ say, ‘We will not stay in this land,’ and you thus disobey the voice of the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem}, 14and if you say, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt (land of bondage) and live there, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for bread,’ 15then hear the word of the LORD {YHWH}, O remnant of Judah (praised)! This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), says: ‘If you⁺ are determined to go to Egypt (land of bondage) and reside there, 16then the sword you⁺ fear will overtake you⁺ there (land of bondage), and the famine you⁺ dread will follow on your⁺ heels into Egypt, and you⁺ will die there. 17So all who resolve to go to Egypt (land of bondage) to reside there will die by sword and famine and plague. Not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring upon them.’

18For this is what the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts, the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), says: ‘Just as My anger and wrath were poured out on the residents of Jerusalem (city of peace), so will My wrath be poured out on you⁺ if you⁺ go to Egypt (land of bondage). You⁺ will become an object of cursing and horror, of vilification and disgrace, and you⁺ will never see this place again.’

19The LORD {YHWH} has told you⁺, O remnant of Judah (praised), ‘Do not go to Egypt (land of bondage).’ Know for sure that I have warned you⁺ today! 20For you⁺ have deceived yourselves by sending me to the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem}, saying, ‘Pray to the LORD our God on our behalf, and as for all that the LORD our God says, tell it to us and we will do it.’

21For I have told you⁺ today, but you⁺ have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} in all He has sent me to tell you⁺. 22Now therefore, know for sure that by sword and famine and plague you⁺ will die in the place where you⁺ desire to go to reside.”