Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 43

Verse 1

And it came to pass, [that] when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, [even] all these words,

And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end, … — See here how wicked men, and hypocrites especially, grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Balaam being resolved to curse, however, went not as at other times but set his face toward the wilderness. Numbers 24:1-2 Now he would build no more altars, but curse whatever came of it; so would these refractories, without God’s good leave, go down to Egypt, putting it to the venture. Jeremiah’s sweet words were even lost upon them.

Verse 2

Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:

Then spake Azariah. — See on Jeremiah 42:1 .

And all the proud men. — Pride is the root of rebellion. See Jeremiah 13:15 . These men’s pride budded, as Ezekiel 7:10 and as the leprosy, brake forth in their foreheads. See Hosea 7:1 . See Trapp on " Hosea 7:1 "

Saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely. — By this foul aspersion, not proven at all, they seek to discredit his prophecy, like as the Jews do to this day the New Testament, and the Papists the Book of Martyrs and other monuments of the Church, saying of them, So many lines, so many lies.

Verse 3

But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.

But Baruch, the son of Neriah, setteth thee on against us. — A likely matter. What should Baruch gain by that? but malice careth not how truly or rationally it speaketh or acteth, so it may gall or kill Jeremiah and Baruch must be said to be in league together, and to collude for a common disturbance, like as the Papists say Luther and Zuinglius did; whereas they knew nothing one of another for a long time after that they began to stickle against Popery in several climates; and when they did hear of one another, they differed exceedingly, in the doctrine of the sacrament especially.

Verse 4

So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah.

So Johanan the son of Kareah, … — Nothing is more audacious and desperate than a hypocrite when once discovered. Now these subdoli show themselves in their colours, appear in their likeness, going on end with their work.

Verse 5

But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah;

But Johanan … took all the remnant of Judah. — Whose preservation had been but a reservation to further mischief, a just punishment of their incorrigibleness.

Verse 6

[Even] men, and women, and children, and the king’s daughters, and every person 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.

And Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. — This was not without a special providence of God, that these desperadoes might still have a prophet with them, for the making of them the more inexcusable. If it befall any of God’s faithful servants to be hurried whither they would not, as it did Jeremiah and Baruch here, Paul also and Peter, John 21:18 Ignatius, Polycarp, and other prisoners and sufferers for the truth in all ages, let them comfort themselves with these examples.

Verse 7

So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they [even] to Tahpanhes.

Thus came they even to Tahpanhes. — A chief city of Egypt, called also Hanes. Isaiah 30:4 Jerome calleth it Tunis, and Herodotus, Daphnis Pelusiae.

Verse 8

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

Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying. — And although many more words besides came to him while he was there, and many remarkable passages happened, yet the Holy Ghost has recorded no more thereof than what we find in this and the next chapter.

Verse 9

Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which [is] at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;

Take great stones in thine hand. — Bricks, wherewith Egypt abounded, as being much of it muddy by reason of the inundation of the river Nile; hence also their chief city was called Pelusium, or Daphnis Pelusiae. See Jeremiah 43:7 . It is ordinary with Jeremiah to join paradigms with his prophecies, as here, that they might be the more evident, and take the deeper impression.

Verse 10

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

Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar. — By a secret instinct put into his heart.

And will set his throne upon these stones. — This was dangerous for Jeremiah to say at the court gate, and in the hearing of so many disaffected Jews, who would be ready enough to make the worst of everything. Some say they stoned him with brickbats A piece or fragment of a brick; properly, according to Gwilt, less than one half of its length. It is the typical ready missile, where stones are scarce. for this very prophecy.

Verse 11

And when he cometh, he shall 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.

And when he cometh. — Being sent and set on by God.

He shall smite the land of Egypt. — As for their idolatry, …, so especially for harbouring these perfidious Jews, whom divine vengeance still pursues hot foot, and will not allow them to live anywhere, since they would not be persuaded to live in God’s good land, and by his good laws.

Verse 12

And I will kindle a fire in 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 putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace.

And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt. — Goodly gods they were, that could not keep their temples from burning! Diana, said one jestingly, was so busy at the birth of great Alexander that she could not for some while be at Ephesus, where her stately temple was at the same time set on fire by Herostratus.

And he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment, — i.e., Easily and speedily shall he carry away the spoil of that rich country, there being none there to hinder him, either in taking them or carrying them away:

“ Pastor enim secure portat tectumque, laremque. ”

Verse 13

He shall break also 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.

He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh. — Or, Heliopolis, where the sun was worshipped with great superstition, as Herodotus Lib. ii. writeth. The Hebrews also called this city On, or Aven - that is, vanity or iniquity - as well they might, for the abominable idolatry there committed. Josephus Antiq., lib. x. cap. 11. saith, that five years after this prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar, who had Egypt given him as pay for his pains at Tyre, invaded Egypt; and the king thereof being slain, he set up another there, and took the Jews that remained alive away into Babylon.