Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 43

Introduction

Jeremiah 27-29. Certain linguistic peculiarities ( e.g. the incorrect spelling, Nebuchadnezzar) suggest that these three chapters may have circulated as a separate pamphlet, e.g. in Babylon. They deal with the rebuke of false hopes concerning a speedy return from exile.

Jeremiah 30-31. The Future of Israel and Judah.— These two chapters of prophecy, dealing with the future restoration of Israel and Judah, appear to be a later editorial insertion in the narrative scheme of Jeremiah 26-45, placed here perhaps because Jeremiah 32 and Jeremiah 33 contain narratives and prophecies dealing with the same subject ( cf. also Jeremiah 29:10 ff.). In Jeremiah 30 and Jeremiah 31, there are numerous points of contact with Deutero-Isaiah, a fact which, with other features, has suggested to many scholars an exilic or post-exilic date for much that these chapters contain. The contrast with the general “ pessimism” of earlier chapters is very noticeable. On the other hand, the internal evidence for Jeremiah 31:2-6, Jeremiah 31:15-22, Jeremiah 31:31-34 entitles us to regard these sections as Jeremianic.

Jeremiah 40-44. The next five chapters continue the biography of Jeremiah, including connected events, after the capture of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 46-51. The Foreign Prophecies.— These form the third principal division of the Book of Jeremiah. As already seen ( Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 1:10, Jeremiah 25:15), Jeremiah’ s prophetic horizon naturally included the surrounding nations; how far the prophecies that follow are his can be decided only by detailed criticism in each case. They refer, though in somewhat different order, to the several nations enumerated in Jeremiah 25:19-26 (which may be regarded as an introduction to them), except that an oracle on Damascus here replaces the reference to Tyre, Sidon, and the Mediterranean. (The LXX, which places this group of prophecies after Jeremiah 25:13, follows a third order.) It is generally admitted that the long prophecy on Babylon (Jeremiah 50 f.) is not by Jeremiah (see prefatory note). As to Jeremiah 46-49, there is considerable difference of opinion, ranging from Duhm’ s rejection of the whole, through Giesebrecht’ s acceptance of Jeremiah 47 (except towards end), with the nucleus of Jeremiah 46:2-12, Jeremiah 49:7-11, up to Cornill’ s acceptance of most of Jeremiah 46-49 (so also Peake). It is in any case natural to suppose that there are genuine prophecies by Jeremiah which underlie these chapters, though they have been worked over, or incorporated with other non-Jeremianic prophecies ( e.g. Jeremiah 48) by later writers. For details, the larger commentaries must be consulted.

Jeremiah 26-45. These chapters, usually ascribed in the main to Baruch, chiefly narrate selected incidents in the life of Jeremiah, often with connected prophecies; they form a second main section of the book, in contrast with 1– 25, which consist chiefly of prophecies, with little narrative.

Verses 1-7

Jeremiah 42:1 to Jeremiah 43:7 . The Migration into Egypt.— Jeremiah is asked by the leaders ( Jeremiah 42:1 mg., with LXX) and the people to seek Yahweh’ s guidance, which they solemnly ( Jeremiah 42:5 mg.) promise to follow ( Jeremiah 42:1-6). After ten days, the Divine revelation comes to the prophet and is communicated to the people, to the effect that they are to remain in Judah, where Yahweh promises to protect them from the Babylonians; their hope of prosperity in Egypt will be found delusive; Yahweh will treat them in Egypt as He has treated Jerusalem. They are doing harm to themselves by their (intended) disobedience after the pledge given ( Jeremiah 42:7-22). The leaders (as Jeremiah had anticipated, from Jeremiah 42:17 ff.) refuse to obey the oracle, alleging that it is not genuine, but inspired by Baruch. They migrate to Egypt, and reach Tahpanhes (Daphne, a frontier fortress, Jeremiah 2:16).

Jeremiah 42:12 . Read “ to dwell in” for “ to return to” , with Syr. Vulg.

Jeremiah 42:20 . dealt deceitfully: should be, with LXX, “ done evil” .— souls: simply “ selves” .

Jeremiah 43:2 . saying: read instead, with Giesebrecht, “ and defiant” .

Jeremiah 43:5 . Cf. Jeremiah 40:11 f.

Jeremiah 43:6 . Cf. Jeremiah 41:10.

Verses 8-13

Jeremiah 43:8-13 . The Future Conquest of Egypt by Nebuchadrezzar.— According to an imperfect inscription (given in Rogers’ s Cuneiform Parallels to the OT, p. 367), he actually invaded Egypt in 567 B.C. Jeremiah symbolically proclaims this by placing stones on the spot where the Babylonian king shall erect his throne and glittering canopy ( Jeremiah 43:10 mg.) . He will make the land his, as easily as a shepherd puts on his garment ( Jeremiah 43:12), and will destroy heathen temples, and the obelisks of Heliopolis ( Jeremiah 43:13 mg.; 6 m. NE. of Cairo) For the force of such “ symbolism” see on Jeremiah 13:1 ff.

Jeremiah 43:9 . in mortar in the brickwork: a very doubtful phrase: LXX reads “ in the forecourt” , and other Greek VSS with Vulg. “ in secret” ; the latter is preferable, as the action would perhaps have to be done by night cf. Ezekiel 12:7.

Jeremiah 43:10 . Read with LXX, Syr. “ he will set” .

Jeremiah 43:12 . Read with VSS, “ he will kindle” .

Jeremiah 43:13 . “ Cleopatra’ s Needle” is one of these obelisks.