Jeremiah 43

Rebellious flight to Egypt in rejection of Jeremiah's message
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 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,
 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:
  All the words From the previous chapter beginning at verse 10 je4210.
  Azariah He was obviously involved je4113, je4201.
  Proud men Literally "insolent men."
 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.
 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.
  Baruch Jeremiah's companion and stenographer. The ideas, they reasoned, could not have come from God. People have always found excuses to disobey. Choosing to disbelieve perhaps makes disobedience easier.
 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;
.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.
 7 So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.
  Took all Including the prophet and his friend.
  Returned from the nations Moab and Amon. See je4011.
  Tahpanhes See je3909, 2ki2508. They decided to stay in this city.
.8 ¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,
 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;
.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.
  9 - Take in your hands large stones, and hide them in the mortar in the pavement which is at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah, (RSV)

  9 - Stones ... hide "Bricks in that hot country are generally dried in the sun, not burned. The palace of Pharaoh was being built or repaired at this time; hence arose the mortar and brick-kiln at the entry. Of the same materials as that of which Pharaoh's house was built, the substructure of Nebuchadnezzar's throne should be constructed. By a visible symbol implying that the throne of the latter shall be raised on the downfall of the former. Egypt at that time contended with Babylon for the empire of the East." (JFB Commentary)
  10 - Nebuchadrezzar This spelling is a better transliteration of the Babylonian name into Hebrew, then into English. See on da0101.
Image © Corel
 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.
 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.
  11 - When he cometh See on je4613.
  12 - Shepherd ... garment The Septuagint for this clause reads, "and he shall search for vermin in the land of Egypt, as a shepherd searches his garment for vermin."
.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.   Images Pillars or obelisks of the place.
  Beth-shemesh Which means "house of the sun."
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