Jeremiah43
New King James Version
1Now it happened, when Jeremiah had stopped speaking to all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words,
2that Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, “You speak falsely! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to dwell there.’
3But Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death or carry us away captive to Babylon.”
4So Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces, and all the people would not obey the voice of the Lord, to remain in the land of Judah.
5But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to dwell in the land of Judah, from all nations where they had been driven—
6men, women, children, the king’s daughters, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah.
7So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they went as far as Tahpanhes.
8Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,
9“Take large stones in your hand, and hide them in the sight of the men of Judah, in the clay in the brick courtyard which is at the entrance to Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes;
10and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will send and bring Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden. And he will spread his royal pavilion over them.
11When he comes, he shall strike the land of Egypt and deliver to death those appointed for death, and to captivity those appointed for captivity, and to the sword those appointed for the sword.
12I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them and carry them away captive. And he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his garment, and he shall go out from there in peace.
13He shall also break the sacred pillars of Beth Shemesh that are in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians he shall burn with fire.” ’ ”
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