Jeremiah 44:2

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, etc.] In which manner the prophecies of this book are frequently prefaced; (see <244215> Jeremiah 42:15,18 43:10); ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; they saw it with their bodily eyes; they could not but serve it in their minds; nay, had an experimental knowledge of it; they suffered it in part themselves, and must be convicted in their own consciences that it was from the hand of the Lord: and, behold, this day they [are] a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein; lie waste, at this very time; the walls are broken down the houses are demolished; the goods in them carried off; no…”

“evil . . . upon Jerusalem--If I spared not My own sacred city, much less shall ye be safe in Egypt, which I loathe.”

“44:2 Jeremiah’s message appealed to the common knowledge he and his audience shared about the calamity that had wiped out Judah and Jerusalem.”

“Ye have: Jer 39:1-8; Exo 19:4; Deu 29:2; Jos 23:3; Zac 1:6 a desolation: Jer 44:22, Jer 4:7, Jer 7:34, Jer 9:11, Jer 25:11, Jer 34:22; Lev 26:32, Lev 26:33, Lev 26:43; Kg2 21:13; Isa 6:11, Isa 24:12, Isa 64:10, Isa 64:11; Lam 1:1, Lam 1:16, Lam 5:18; Mic 3:12 Jeremiah 44:3”

“The warning and threatening. - "Thus saith Jahveh of hosts, the God of Israel: Ye yourselves have been all the evil which I have brought on Jerusalem, and on all the cities of Judah; and, behold, they are a desolation this day, and there is no inhabitant in them; Jer 44:3. Because of their wickedness which they have done, by provoking me through going to burn incense, (and) to serve other gods whom they knew not, (neither) they (nor) ye, nor your fathers. Jer 44:4. And I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending (them), to say, Do not this abominable thing which I hate. Jer 44:5. But they did not hear, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, by not…”