Commanders of the forces; that is, “army leaders” (Good News Translation) or “military leaders” (New Jerusalem Bible).

As the Revised Standard Version note indicates, Azariah is taken from the Septuagint; the Hebrew has “Jezaniah.” The decision to follow the Septuaguint is based upon the observation that in 43.2 “Azariah” is also found. However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers “Jezaniah,” on the assumption that a later scribe must have attempted to make 42.1 parallel with 43.2. Our recommendation is to follow the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project preference, although most versions have followed Revised Standard Version.

All the people from the least to the greatest: See 6.13.

Came near is better expressed as “came to [Jeremiah].”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .