Jeremiah 43:5-13

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 43:5-13 Meaning and Commentary

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.