Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 43

Verses 1-7

JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 43

REJECTING THE COUNSEL OF GOD

Vs. 1-7: THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT

1. Jeremiah was barely permitted to finish relating the message that God had sent to the small remnant in Judah before he was charged with lying! (vs. 1-2; comp. Jeremiah 26:8-9; Jeremiah 5:11-13).

2. They charge that, instead of declaring the word of the Lord to them, he is furthering the interests of Baruch who wants to see them all in the hands of the Chaldeans, (vs. 3; Jeremiah 36:26). So absurd were their charges that Jeremiah did not even bother to answer them!

3. Thus, Johanan, the captain of the forces, and all the people refused to obey the voice of the Lord in this matter - determined that they would not remain in the land of Judah, (vs. 4; Jeremiah 42:5; Jeremiah 10-12; Jeremiah 44:5; comp. Psalms 37:3-4).

4. So, all the people who -had returned to Judah from afar -intending to settle there again under Gedaliah - were taken to the land of Egypt; this included Jeremiah and Baruch - who seem not to have been given any choice in the matter, (vs. 5-6).

5. Disobeying the voice of Jehovah, they came to Tahpanhes, in Egypt, (vs. 7)

Verses 8-13

Vs. 8-13: JEREMIAH FORETELLS THE FATE OF EGYPT

1. Though in Egypt against his will, Jeremiah continues to act as the prophet of Jehovah for His rebellious people, (vs. 8; 2 Timothy 2:9; Psalms 139:7).

2. Once again he performs a symbolic ad - which he then explains, (vs. 9-11).

a. The Lord instructs him to take some large stones and hide them in mortar in the pavement (or square) at the very entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes - and he is to do it in the sight of the men of Judah.

b. Then, at the Lord’s command, they are told what this strange act signifies.

1) Jehovah will send HIS SERVANT (comp. Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 27:6; Isaiah 45:1), Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to set up his throne over these stones that the prophet has hidden - spreading his royal pavilion there, (vs. 10; comp. Psalms 27:5; Psalms 31:20-21).

2) And he will utterly smite the land of Egypt with captivity and death, (vs. 11; comp. Jeremiah 25:15-19; Jeremiah 46:1-2; Jeremiah 46:13-26; Ezekiel 29:19-20).

3. As a shepherd wraps a garment around himself, so will Nebuchadnezzar wrap himself about with Egypt - easily subjugating the land, and departing safely, (vs. 12b; comp. Isaiah 49:18; Psalms 104:1­2).

4. When he invades the land he will break the pillars (obelisks) in the house of Egypt’s sun god - burning the shrines of all the deities of Egypt, (vs. 12-13; Jeremiah 46:25; Isaiah 19:1; Ezekiel 30:13).

5. Though it is known that Nebuchadnezzar actually invaded Egypt in 568-567 B.C., when Amasis was Pharaoh, secular history records little of the extent of that invasion.