Yirmeyah 43

1 3 And it came to pass, that when Yirmeyah had made an end of speaking unto kol haAm all the divrei Hashem Eloheihem, for which Hashem Eloheihem had sent him to them, even all these words,

2 Then spoke Azaryah ben Hoshayah, Yochanan ben Kareach, and all the anashim hazedim, saying unto Yirmeyah, Thou speakest sheker; Hashem Eloheinu hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Mitzrayim to sojourn there;

3 But Baruch ben Neriyah inciteth thee against us, for to deliver us into the yad haKasdim, that they might put us to death, and carry us away into the Golus of Babylon.

4 So Yochanan ben Kareach, and all the officers of the forces, and kol haAm, obeyed not the voice of Hashem, to dwell in Eretz Yehudah.

5 But Yochanan ben Kareach, and all the officers of the forces, took all the she’erit Yehudah, that were returned from kol haGoyim, where they had been driven there, to dwell in Eretz Yehudah;

6 Even men, and women, and children, and the banot hamelech,and every nefesh that Nevuzaradan, the captain of the imperial guard, had left with Gedalyah ben Achikam ben Shaphan, and Yirmeyah HaNavi, and Baruch ben Neriyah.

7 So they came into Eretz Mitzrayim; for they obeyed not the voice of Hashem; thus came they even as far as Tahpanhes.

8 Then came the Devar Hashem unto Yirmeyah in Tahpanhes, saying,

9 Take avanim gedolim in thine yad, and bury them in the clay in the brick pavement, which is at the entrance of the bais Pharaoh in Tahpanhes, before the eyes of the anshei Yehudah;

10 And say unto them, Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel: Hineni, I will send and take Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel, avdi (my servant), and will set his throne upon these avanim that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

11 And when he cometh, he shall smite Eretz Mitzrayim, and deliver such as are for mot to mot; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the cherev to the cherev.

12 And I will kindle an eish in the batim (houses) of the g-ds of Mitzrayim; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captive; and he shall wrap himself with Eretz Mitzrayim, as a ro’eh putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from there in shalom.

13 He shall demolish also the matzevot Bais Shemesh, that is in Eretz Mitzrayim; and the batim (houses) of the g-ds of the Egyptians shall he burn with eish.

Yirmeyah 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.