Jeremiah43
New International Version
1When Jeremiah had finished telling the people all the words of the Lord their God—everything the Lord had sent him to tell them—
2Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there.’
3But Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians, so they may kill us or carry us into exile to Babylon.”
4So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed the Lord’s command to stay in the land of Judah.
5Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers led away all the remnant of Judah who had come back to live in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered.
6They also led away all those whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan—the men, the women, the children and the king’s daughters. And they took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah along with them.
7So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord and went as far as Tahpanhes.
8In Tahpanhes the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:
9“While the Jews are watching, take some large stones with you and bury them in clay in the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes.
10Then say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones I have buried here; he will spread his royal canopy above them.
11He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword.
12He will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt; he will burn their temples and take their gods captive. As a shepherd picks his garment clean of lice, so he will pick Egypt clean and depart.
13There in the temple of the sun in Egypt he will demolish the sacred pillars and will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.’”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 43.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The leaders carry the people to Egypt. (1-7). Jeremiah foretells the conquest of Egypt. (8-13).
vv1-7
Only by pride comes contention, both with God and man. They preferred their own wisdom to the revealed will of God. Men deny the Scriptures to be the word of God, because they are resolved not to conform themselves to Scripture rules. When men will persist in sin, they charge the best actions to bad motives. These Jews deserted their own land, and threw themselves out of God's protection. It is the folly of men, that they often ruin themselves by wrong endeavours to mend their situation.
vv8-13
God can find his people wherever they are. The Spirit of prophecy was not confined to the land of Israel. It is foretold that Nebuchadnezzar should destroy and carry into captivity many of the Egyptians. Thus God makes one wicked man, or wicked nation, a scourge and plague to another. He will punish those who deceive his professing people, or tempt them to rebellion.
Key Words
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
כָּלָה: to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare, consume)
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֵלֶּה: these or those
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
Cross References
Jeremiah 43Ezekiel explicitly prophesies Nebuchadnezzar being given Egypt as wages for his service to God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Repeats exact tripartite formula of judgment: 'such as are for death to death; and such for captivity...'
Supported by JFB
Direct parallel for the vivid dressing metaphor where conqueror arrays himself with a land.
Supported by JFB
Traces the previous capture of 'the king's daughters' under Ishmael, now forced into Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct violation of their earlier hypocritical vow not to enter Egypt to find safety.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Highlights the specific designation of Nebuchadnezzar as Yahweh's 'servant' to execute divine judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Identifies the 'remnant of Judah' that had gathered from all nations, now fleeing to Egypt.
Supported by JFB
Mentions Tahpanhes earlier in Jeremiah as a source of Israel's spiritual degradation and shame.
Supported by JFB
Parallels Jeremiah's previous physical sign acts of hiding an object (linen girdle) under rocks.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes Baruch's prominent role as Jeremiah's scribe, drawing the leaders' intense suspicion.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides historical background on the Egyptian queen Tahpenes, linked to the city's naming.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Typological echo of God executing judgment directly upon the helpless false gods of Egypt.
Supported by JFB
Ezekiel parallels Jeremiah's prophecy of the destruction of Egyptian idols and images.
Supported by JFB
Connects the brickkiln sign at Pharaoh's house to the eventual fall of Pharaoh-hophra.
Supported by JFB