And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,
Parallel translations
- WEB They departed, and lived in Geruth 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 19:37–38Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
- Jer 42:19The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.
- Jer 43:7So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.
- Isa 30:2–3That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.