what a sudden change took place in all the people ! Instead of fulfilling their engagements, they manifested,]
2. Their deliberate violation of them —
[After ten days, God was pleased to declare, by the pro- phet, that Johanan and the people must remain in their own land : at the same time assuring them, that he would overrule the heart of the king of Babylon to favour themf; but that, if they would go into Egypt, the very evils which they appre- hended, should follow them thither, to their utter destructions.
Now, viewing their previous and solemn engagements, one would naturally suppose that they would instantly comply with the direction given them. But, instead of that, they deny that God had given any such direction to Jeremiah ; and assert, that Baruch had stirred him up to feign this message from the Lord, on purpose to deliver him and all the people into the hands of the Chaldeansh; and therefore they would proceed to Egypt, at all events. This purpose they immediately carried into execution ; and not only took all the people with them, but forced Jeremiah also, and Baruch, to accompany them thither '.
A more flagrant act of rebellion than this can scarcely be conceived. Yet behold,]
3. Their self-vindicating effrontery —
[The people, both men and women, but the women more especially, betook themselves to idolatry, and offered incense to the Queen of heaven. Being reproved for this by the pro- phet, they boldly asserted, that the service of Jehovah had been altogether unprofitable to them ; that their former prosperity had arisen from their worship of the Queen of heaven ; and their later adversity had resulted from their neglect of her. The truth was, as the prophet told them, the very reverse of this : whilst they had served the Lord, he had prospered them ; but when they departed from him to their idols, they had constrained him to follow them with his judgments, even to that very hour. But they were bent upon vindicating themselves and their own ways ; and plainly declared to the prophet, that " as for the word which he had spoken to them in the name of the Lord, they would not do it ; but would certainly do whatever they themselves chose," however offensive it might be to God, or however injurious to their own interests. They had engaged to worship the Queen of heaven ; and her they would worship, whatever God or his prophet might say in opposition to it: for they had found it their interest to serve her; and serve her they would k.]
f Jer. xlii. 12. s Jer. xlii. 13 — 17. h Jer. xliii. 1 — 4.
> Jer. xliii. 5 — 7. k ver. 17 — 19.