Jeremiah 43

Flight to Egypt

¹When Jeremiah had finished speaking to all the people all the words of the LORD their God, with which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words,

²then Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, “You speak falsely. The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You shall not go into Egypt to live there;’

³but Baruch the son of Neriah has turned you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death or carry us away captive to Babylon.”

⁴So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey the LORD’s voice, to dwell in the land of Judah.

⁵But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah—

⁶the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and every person who 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.

⁷They came into the land of Egypt, for they didn’t obey the LORD’s voice; and they came to Tahpanhes.

⁸Then the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,

⁹“Take great stones in your hand and hide them in mortar in the brick work which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah.

¹⁰Tell them, the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne on these stones that I have hidden; and he will spread his royal pavilion over them.

¹¹He will come, and will strike the land of Egypt; such as are for death will be put to death, and such as are for captivity to captivity, and such as are for the sword to the sword.

¹²I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt. He will burn them, and carry them away captive. He will array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his garment; and he will go out from there in peace.

¹³He will also break the pillars of Beth Shemesh that is in the land of Egypt; and he will burn the houses of the gods of Egypt with fire.’”

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Despite Jeremiah's clear prophecy forbidding flight to Egypt, the Jewish remnant led by Johanan accuses the prophet of lying and forces him and Baruch to accompany them to Egypt. Once in Tahpanhes, God commands Jeremiah to perform a symbolic act with stones, prophesying that Nebuchadnezzar will conquer Egypt and establish his throne there. This chapter demonstrates the tragic consequences of rejecting God's word and seeking security in human alliances rather than divine protection.

Context

This chapter follows the remnant's request for divine guidance in chapter 42 and their subsequent rejection of God's answer, leading to the final phase of Jeremiah's ministry in exile.

Key Themes

Outline

1-3
Rejection of Jeremiah's Prophecy The leaders accuse Jeremiah of lying about God's command not to go to Egypt, blaming Baruch for influencing him.
4-7
Forced Flight to Egypt Johanan and the people disobey God's voice and take the entire remnant, including Jeremiah and Baruch, to Tahpanhes in Egypt.
8-13
Prophecy of Egypt's Conquest God commands Jeremiah to bury stones as a sign that Nebuchadnezzar will conquer Egypt and destroy its temples.

Flight to Egypt

43:1–43:13

prophecy narration defiant

The people reject Jeremiah's prophecy and flee to Egypt, accusing him of lying and Baruch of manipulating him. In Egypt, God reveals through symbolic action that Nebuchadnezzar will conquer Egypt and establish his throne there.

person_contrast

Jeremiah's accusers ironically fulfill his prophecy by dragging him to Egypt, making the prophet himself an unwilling participant in the very disobedience he condemned.

Insight Character Study

Jeremiah's accusers ironically fulfill his prophecy by dragging him to Egypt, making the prophet himself an unwilling participant in the very disobedience he condemned.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Jeremiah 43:2 2 references

Lexicals 2

Jeremiah 42:1 Lexical

Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people…

3 shared words

Jeremiah 40:16 Lexical

But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely of…

3 shared words

Jeremiah 43:3 5 references

Lexicals 5

Isaiah 43:14 Lexical

The LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: “For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of th…

3 shared words

Jeremiah 36:8 Lexical

Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the LORD’s wo…

2 shared words

Jeremiah 45:1 Lexical

The message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mout…

2 shared words

Jeremiah 32:12 Lexical

and I delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my…

2 shared words

Jeremiah 36:14 Lexical

Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying, “…

2 shared words

Jeremiah 43:4 5 references

Lexicals 5

Jeremiah 42:8 Lexical

Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, and all the people from…

Jeremiah 43

Flight to Egypt

Flight to Egypt

Insights

Cross-References

Jeremiah 43:2 2 references

Jeremiah 43:3 5 references

Jeremiah 43:4 5 references

Jeremiah 43:5 5 references

Jeremiah 43:6 5 references

Jeremiah 43:10 5 references

Jeremiah 43:11 1 reference

Jeremiah 43:12 5 references

Jeremiah 43:13 2 references

Interlinear

Historical Context