Jeremiah 42:7 - Exposition

After ten days. Why this delay? Keil thinks it was for the sake of the people, who needed time to collect themselves and listen calmly to the revelation. Ezekiel once waited seven days ( Ezekiel 3:16 ); but this was owing to his own disturbed state of mind. The answer of the Lord extends to verse 18, the last four verses being an epilogue enforcing the Divine declaration. It consists of the promise (verses 9-12) that, if the people will remain quietly in the land, they will be protected; and of the threat (verses 13-18) that, if they presume to migrate into Egypt, they will perish there by sword, famine, and pestilence.