They departed, and lived in Geruth Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,
Parallel translations
- KJV And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,
- BSB And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, near Bethlehem, in order to proceed into Egypt
- NKJV And they departed and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is near Bethlehem, as they went on their way to Egypt,
- NASB And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, which is beside Bethlehem, in order to proceed into Egypt
- NLT They took them all to the village of Geruth-kimham near Bethlehem, where they prepared to leave for Egypt.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The remnant sets out southward, intending to flee to Egypt. Fear drives them toward the very refuge God will warn against.
Overview
Johanan and the people stop near Bethlehem on their way toward Egypt, seeking escape from the fallout of Gedaliah's murder. Their instinct to flee to Egypt for safety repeats Israel's old temptation to trust the Nile rather than the LORD (Isa 31:1). This sets up the crucial inquiry of chapter 42, where they will ask Jeremiah for God's direction.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Jer 42:14saying, “No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:”’
- 2 Sam 19:37–38Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.”
- Jer 42:19“Yahweh has spoken concerning you, remnant of Judah, Don’t you go into Egypt: know certainly that I have testified to you today.
- Jer 43:7and they came into the land of Egypt; for they didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice: and they came to Tahpanhes.
- Isa 30:2–3who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked my advice; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 41:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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