Jeremiah 43

1 It happened that, when Yirmeyahu had made an end of speaking to all the people all the words of the LORD their God, with which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words,

2 then spoke `Azaryah the son of Hosha`yah, and Yochanan the son of Kareach, and all the proud men, saying to Yirmeyahu, You speak falsely: the LORD our God has not sent you to say, You shall not go into Mitzrayim to sojourn there;

3 but Barukh the son of Neriyah sets you on against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Kasdim, that they may put us to death, and carry us away captive to Bavel.

4 So Yochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn't obey the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Yehudah.

5 But Yochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Yehudah, who were returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to sojourn in the land of Yehudah;

6 the men, and the women, and the children, and the king's daughters, and every person who Nevuzar'adan the captain of the guard had left with Gedalyahu the son of Achikam, the son of Shafan; and Yirmeyahu the prophet, and Barukh the son of Neriyah;

7 and they came into the land of Mitzrayim; for they didn't obey the voice of the LORD: and they came to Tachpanches.

8 Then came the word of the LORD to Yirmeyahu in Tachpanches, saying,

9 Take great stones in your hand, and hide them in mortar in the brick work, which is at the entry of Par`oh's house in Tachpanches, in the sight of the men of Yehudah;

10 and tell them, Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Yisra'el: Behold, I will send and take Nevukhadretztzar the king of Bavel, my servant, and will set his throne on these stones that I have hidden; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

11 He shall come, and shall strike the land of Mitzrayim; such as are for death [shall be given] 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 Mitzrayim; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captive: and he shall array himself with the land of Mitzrayim, as a shepherd puts on his garment; and he shall go forth from there in shalom.

13 He shall also break the pillars of Beit-Shemesh, that is in the land of Mitzrayim; and the houses of the gods of Mitzrayim shall he burn with fire.

Jeremiah 43 Commentary

Chapter 43

The leaders carry the people to Egypt. (1-7) Jeremiah foretells the conquest of Egypt. (8-13)

Verses 1-7 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.

Verses 8-13 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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 43

This chapter contains the answer of the princes and people to the prophet's message; a relation of their going into Egypt; and a prophecy of the destruction of that land. The persons that gave the answer are described, some by name, and all by their character; and the time of their giving it is mentioned, in which they charge the prophet with a falsehood; impute the whole to an instigation of Baruch, and an ill design of his, and so were disobedient to the command of God, Jer 43:1-4; and went into Egypt, and carried all with them, of every rank, age, and sex, and even Baruch, and the prophet too, and came to Tahpanhes, the seat of the kings of Egypt, Jer 43:5-7; upon this a prophecy is delivered out, concerning the destruction of that country, which is signified by a symbol explained; the person, the instrument of it, is mentioned by name, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; the devastation he should make is expressed by slaying with the sword, and carrying into captivity; by burning the temples of their gods, and breaking their images in pieces, Jer 43:8-13.