ירמיהו, פרק מ״ב, פסוק ט״ז

Fleeing from danger does not always guarantee safety. In fact, the disasters the people attempt to escape will actively chase them down, reaching them precisely in the refuge they have chosen. The people are terrified of a specific threat, namely the sword of the Chaldeans [מצודת דוד]. A deep tragedy unfolds in their decision to seek safety in Egypt. Their primary motivation for running there is to avoid the horrors of war. However, their plan is doomed to fail because Nebuchadnezzar is destined to conquer Egypt as well. The very war they are running from will catch up to them on Egyptian soil [מלבי״ם].

Beyond the threat of war, the people are consumed by the fear and dread of starvation [מצודת ציון]. Yet, instead of finding relief, this famine will attach itself to them, relentlessly pursuing them without pause [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. To emphasize the inescapable nature of their choice, the focus is placed heavily on Egypt as the final setting of their downfall [מצודת דוד]. Ultimately, their fate is sealed. They will die on Egyptian soil by the exact means they tried so hard to escape, falling victim to both the sword and the famine [מצודת דוד].