Jeremiah43
World English Bible · Public Domain
1 When Jeremiah had finished speaking to all the people all the words of Yahweh their God, with which Yahweh their God had sent him to them, even all these words,
2 then Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, “You speak falsely. Yahweh our God has not sent you to say, ‘You shall not go into Egypt to live there;’
3 but Baruch the son of Neriah has turned 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.”
4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice, to dwell in the land of Judah.
5 But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah—
6 the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and every person who 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.
7 They came into the land of Egypt, for they didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice; and they came to Tahpanhes.
8 Then Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,
9 “Take great stones in your hand and hide them in mortar in the brick work which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah.
10 Tell them, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne on these stones that I have hidden; and he will spread his royal pavilion over them.
11 He will come, and will strike the land of Egypt; such as are for death will be put to death, and such as are for captivity to captivity, and such as are for the sword to the sword.
12 I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt. He will burn them, and carry them away captive. He will array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his garment; and he will go out from there in peace.
13 He will also break the pillars of Beth Shemesh that is in the land of Egypt; and he will burn the houses of the gods of Egypt with fire.’”
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Jeremiah 43Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 43. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
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