Jeremias 43:15-25

15 And they said to him, Read again in our ears. And Baruch read .

16 And it came to pass, when they heard all the words, they took counsel each with his neighbour, and said, Let us by all means tell the king all these words.

17 And they asked Baruch, saying, Where didst thou write all these words?

18 And Baruch said, Jeremias told me from his mouth all these words, and I wrote them in a book.

19 And they said to Baruch, Go, and hide, thou and Jeremias; let no man know where ye .

20 And they went in to the king into the court, and gave the roll to keep in the house of Elisama; and they told the king all these words.

21 And the king sent Judin to fetch the roll: and he took it out of the house of Elisama: and Judin read in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes who stood round the king.

22 Now the king was sitting in the winter house: and a fire on the hearth before him.

23 And it came to pass when Judin had read three or four leaves, he cut them off with a penknife, and cast into the fire that was on the hearth, until the whole roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.

24 And the king and his servants that heard all these words sought not , and rent not their garments.

25 But Elnathan and Godolias suggested to the king that he should burn the roll.

Jeremias 43:15-25 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.