Jeremiah 43:3

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.)

Jeremiah 43:3 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 43:3

But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us
First they charge the prophet with a lie, and deny his mission from the Lord; and now to lessen the prophet's crime they charged him with, they lay the blame on Baruch, as if he, out of ill will to them, had instigated the prophet to deliver such a message; which is not at all likely, that he should be prevailed upon by a younger person, and his secretary, to take such a step: nor can it be thought that Baruch should have any interest to serve by it; and, besides, both he and the prophet were too good men, the one to instigate, and the other to be instigated, to declare a falsehood in the name of the Lord. The end proposed, they suggest, was for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put
us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon;
either that he or the prophet might deliver them into the hands of the Chaldeans, to be put to death by them, or be carried captive; which is not at all probable, it being inconsistent with that piety and humanity which were conspicuous in them both, and with their conduct, who chose rather to abide in their own land, with this small and despicable handful of people, than to go and live in the court of Babylon, where good care would have been taken of them.

Jeremiah 43:3 In-Context

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;)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.