14. none . . . shall escape . . . that they should return, &c.--The
Jews had gone to Egypt with the idea that a return to Judea, which
they thought hopeless to their brethren in Babylon, would be an easy
matter to themselves in Egypt: the exact reverse should happen in the
case of each respectively. The Jews whom God sent to Babylon were there
weaned from idolatry, and were restored; those who went to Egypt by
their perverse will were hardened in idolatry, and perished there.
have a desire--literally, "lift up (their) soul," that is,
their hopes (compare
Jer 22:27,
Margin;
De 24:15,
Margin).
none shall return but such as shall escape--namely, the "small number"
(Jer 44:28)
who were brought by force into Egypt, as Jeremiah and Baruch, and those
who, in accordance with Jeremiah's advice, should flee from Egypt
before the arrival of the Chaldeans (see on
Jer 42:17).
CALVIN less probably refers the words to the
return of the exiles in Babylon, which the Jews in Egypt regarded as
hopeless.
JFB.
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