Jeremiah 43:1-6

1 Forsooth it was done, when Jeremy, speaking to the people, had [ful]filled all the words of the Lord God of them, for which the Lord God of them sent him to them, (yea,) all these words, (And it was done, when Jeremiah, speaking to the people, had finished telling all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, yea, all these words,)

2 Azariah, the son of Hoshaiah, said, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all (the) proud men, saying to Jeremy, Thou speakest leasing; our Lord God sent not thee, and said, Enter ye not into Egypt, to dwell there; (then Azariah, the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the other proud men, speaking to Jeremiah, said, Thou speakest lies; the Lord our God sent thee not to say, Go ye not into Egypt, to live there;)

3 but Baruch, the son of Neriah, stirreth thee against us, that he betake us in the hands of Chaldees, that he slay us, and make to be led over into Babylon. (but Baruch, the son of Neriah, stirreth thee against us, so that he can deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, so that they can kill us, or can make us to be led over captive to Babylon.)

4 And Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the princes of warriors, and all the people, heard not the voice of the Lord, that they dwell in the land of Judah. (And so Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the leaders of the warriors, and all the people, did not obey the voice of the Lord, that they should remain in the land of Judah.)

5 But Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the princes of warriors, took all of the remnants of Judah, that turned again from all folks, to which they were scattered before, that they should dwell in the land of Judah; (But Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the leaders of the warriors, took all the remnant of Judah, who returned from all the nations, to which they were scattered before, so that they could live in the land of Judah;)

6 they took men, and women, and little children, and the daughters of the king, and each person, whom Nebuzaradan, the prince of [the] chivalry, had left with Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan. And they took Jeremy, the prophet, and Baruch, the son of Neriah, (yea, they took the men, and the women, and the little children, and the king's daughters, and each person, whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had left with Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan. And they took the prophet Jeremiah, and Baruch, the son of Neriah,)

Jeremiah 43:1-6 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.