Jeremiah Taken to Egypt
Jer 43:1 When Jeremiah had finished telling the people all the words of the LORD their God—everything the LORD had sent him to tell them—
Jer 43:2 Azariah 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.’
Jer 43:3 But 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.”
Jer 43:4 So 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.
Jer 43:5 Instead, 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.
Jer 43:6 They 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.
Jer 43:7 So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the LORD and went as far as Tahpanhes.
Jer 43:8 In Tahpanhes the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
Jer 43:9 “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.
Jer 43:10 Then 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.
Jer 43:11 He 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.
Jer 43:12 He 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.
Jer 43:13 There 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.'”
1 Johanan, discrediting Jeremiah’s prophecy, carried Jeremiah and others into Egypt. 8 Jeremiah prophesied by a type of the conquest of Egypt by the Babylonians.
Jeremiah Taken to Egypt
Jer 43:1 When Jeremiah had finished telling the people all the words of the LORD their God—everything the LORD had sent him to tell them—
Jer 43:2 Azariah 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.’ All the words. See ch. 42:10–22.
The fact that Azariah is named before the acknowledged group leader Johanan (chs. 41:13, 16; 42:1, 8) would seem to indicate that Azariah was the real leader of the prevailing discontent. This charge that Jeremiah spoke falsely, and for the purpose of delivering the people “into the hand of the Chaldeans” (ch. 43:3), repeated the former accusation against him (see ch. 37:13, 14).
Arrogant. Literally, “insolent,” or “presumptuous.” This adjective suggests that these “men” by no means represented all the people; but, as so often happens, their vocal aggressiveness enabled them to seize the initiative.
Jer 43:3 But 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.”
The people charged that Baruch, as the prophet’s secretary and companion, had influenced Jeremiah to “deliver” these remaining Jews “into the hand of the Chaldeans.”
Jer 43:4 So 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.
Evidently, he resumed acting as leader of the remnant in Judah.
Jer 43:5 Instead, 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.
This included Jeremiah and Baruch. (v. 6).
A reference to the fugitives from Moab, Ammon, or Edom (ch. 40:11), whose inclusion in this emigration meant that practically the whole of Judea would be left unpopulated.
Jer 43:6 They 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.
This included all the royal princesses (see on ch. 41:10).
Left with Gedaliah. See Jer. 39:9–14; cf. 2 Kings 25:8–12, 22.
Jer 43:7 So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the LORD and went as far as Tahpanhes.
See on Jer. 2:16; cf. 1 Kings 11:19. This town was the place where the emigrants decided to establish their new home, at least for a time.
Jer 43:8 In Tahpanhes the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
Jer 43:9 “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.
Jer 43:10 Then 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. In the brick pavement.
8For other predictive symbolic actions see Jer. 19:10; 27:2; Eze. 12:1–7.
Spread his royal pavilion.
Some understand this to be a reference to the royal canopy spread over the temporary throne. Others understand this “pavilion” to be the leather covering placed over the platform under the throne, upon which criminals knelt to receive the death stroke.
The latter is favoured by the LXX rendering: “and he shall lift up weapons against them.” This view agrees with the prophetic forecast that when Nebuchadnezzar came to Egypt he would be God’s avenger to execute His wrath against His rebellious people.
Jer 43:11 He 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.
For the historical background of this invasion see on ch. 46:13.
Jer 43:12 He 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.
Jer 43:13 There 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.'”