Jeremiah 43:4-13

4 So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the princes of the armies and all the people, did not hear the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah.

5 But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the princes of the armies, took all the remnant of Judah, that had returned from among all the Gentiles, where they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah;

6 men and women and children and the king’s daughters, and every soul that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah;

7 and they left for the land of Egypt; because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD: thus they came even to Tahpanhes.

8 Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,

9 Take great stones in thine hand and cover them with clay in a brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;

10 and say unto them, Thus hath the LORD of the hosts, the God of Israel said; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my slave and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid, and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

11 And he shall come and smite the land of Egypt and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.

12 And I will put fire to the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd puts on his garment; and he shall go forth from there in peace.

13 He shall also break the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.

Jeremiah 43:4-13 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.