Jeremiah 42:7

AFTER TEN DAYS; GOD REPLIED

"And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah. Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest."

"After ten days ..." (Jeremiah 42:7). Upon other occasions, God had replied almost at once to the prophet; but here, as in the case of the prophecy against Hananiah, the Word of God came after a delay of ten days. Why? We cannot agree with such writers as those mentioned by Keil, who thought the delay was for the purpose of allowing Jeremiah time to "get further news," or for Jeremiah's own "meditations to mature." As Keil noted, "Such an interpretation is unscriptural and rests upon a denial of divine inspiration."[3] The basic understanding of the Bible requires absolutely that its readers understand what is written, not as the words of men, but as the "Word of God through men!"

Feinberg's word on this is: "The prophets never confused God's revelation with their personal desires, judgments, or conclusions. They would not announce God's will until they were certain that they knew what it was. The Scripture always distinguishes between the subjective thoughts of the prophets and the objective Word of God."[4]

Two radical critics, Hitzig and Graf, stated that the ten-day delay in God's reply to Jeremiah was for the purpose of "Giving Jeremiah time to collect information and make up his mind."[5] However, as Smith observed, "That would turn Jeremiah into a wise politician instead of a divine prophet!"[6]

The 10-day delay was disciplinary, giving the people time themselves to pray and await the arrival of God's Word. Instead of that, it seems that the people pushed forward their preparations for going into Egypt; for, as events proved, they were determined to do their own will in that matter, not the will of God.