Jeremiah 42:16

“Then it shall come to pass, etc.] That the various judgments following should come upon them: [that] the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; that is, the sword; of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, which they feared they should fall by in Judea; this should come after them in Egypt, and there overtake them, as it did; Egypt being destroyed by the king of Babylon, as it was foretold it should, (<244625>Jeremiah 46:25,26); and the famine, whereof you were afraid, shalt follow close after you there in Egypt; the famine they were afraid would come upon them in Judea, should pursue them, overtake them, seize on them, and cleave unto them, in Egypt; thus the evils…”

“sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you--The very evils we think to escape by sin, we bring on ourselves thereby. What our hearts are most set on often proves fatal to us. Those who think to escape troubles by changing their place will find them wherever they go (Eze 11:8). The "sword" here is that of Nebuchadnezzar, who fulfilled the prediction in his expedition to Africa (according to MEGASTHENES, a heathen writer),300 B.C.”

“Translate it: “Then shall the sword of which ye are afraid reach you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine whereof ye pine shall cleave close unto you in Egypt, and there shall ye die; and all the men who have set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there shall die ... by the pestilence, nor shall they have anyone that is left or escaped from the evil which I will bring upon them.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“that the sword: Jer 42:13, Jer 44:13, Jer 44:27; Deu 28:15, Deu 28:22, Deu 28:45; Pro 13:21; Eze 11:8; Amo 9:1-4; Zac 1:6; Joh 11:48 follow close: Heb. cleave there ye: Jer 44:11, Jer 44:12, Jer 44:27 Jeremiah 42:17”