Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 42:14

"saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:" — Jeremiah 42:14 (ASV)

Egypt had lost the battle of Carchemish, but it had not been the scene itself of military operations; while Judea, from the date of the battle of Megiddo, had perpetually been exposed to the actual horrors of war.