Jeremiah 43: Disobedience and a Prophecy in Egypt
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,
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:
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.
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.
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;
Even men, and women, and children, and the king’s daughters, and every person that Nebuzar–adan 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.
So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.
Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,
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;
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.
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 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.
He shall break also the images of Beth–shemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.
II. A prophecy concerning the destruction of Egypt by the king of Babylon, Jeremiah 43:8-43:13. God would not leave these disobedient people without a warning, though they had so impiously cast off his authority, but follows them into Egypt with a message. Observe, 1. How this message was delivered. Jeremiah was to take great stones, and lay them for a sign in the clay in the brick-kiln which was at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, Jeremiah 43:9. He must do it publicly, in the sight of the Jews that were come thither; they would ask what he meant by it, and then he must tell them the meaning. Note, It is good to explain signs, lest, when the thing signified comes to pass, the sign be forgotten or not understood. Jeremiah must tell them that God would certainly bring Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, into that land, and that he should set his throne upon those very stones which he now laid, Jeremiah 43:10. This would be a lasting monument of the fulfilling of the prophecy, that, when Nebuchadnezzar had thus taken possession of Egypt, those who remembered the laying of the stones might say with triumph, “Now we see that the word of the Lord is fulfilled.” Note, God has ways of making those that revolt from him know that they cannot escape him. 2. What the message itself was. It is here foretold, (1.) That Nebuchadnezzar should conquer Egypt, and that part of it particularly where they now were. He shall come and smite the land of Egypt, Jeremiah 43:10. The Jews thought they had now got into a place of safety, but they were deceived; the sword of the king of Babylon should find them out there. (2.) That he should destroy the idols of Egypt. Some he should deliver to death, to the plague (for that is the death here intended), others to captivity, and others to the sword, according as they were sentenced by divine justice, Jeremiah 43:11. And upon the houses of the gods of Egypt will he kindle a fire, Jeremiah 43:12. The temples, and all the ornaments of them, shall be burnt. Thus shall the gods of Egypt be ashamed, and their worshippers with them, and God will be glorified in the destruction of them. (3.) That he should carry away captive the images of their gods, as trophies of his victory, and in contempt of those that had been so long worshipped as deities. He shall array himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd puts on his garment, that is, he shall take possession of it with as much ease as a man puts on his clothes; it shall be entirely at his command, and he shall enrich himself with the spoil of it as a man wraps himself in a warm garment. And then he shall go forth from thence in peace and prosperity. (4.) That he should break down the statues of their gods, and burn their temples, Jeremiah 43:13. Beth-shemesh signifies the house of the sun; it was Heliopolis, a city that worshipped the sun, and had images consecrated to it; these Nebuchadnezzar should break down, and burn the houses of the gods of Egypt. This prophecy was fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Egypt, of which we have a short account, Ezekiel 29:19, 29:20. Thus God would convince those that went into Egypt for safety that they should not have gone thither, for they could not avoid the judgments of God by going out of the way of their duty.
Jeremiah 43 recounts the blatant disobedience of the remnant of Judah who, despite clear warnings and promises from God through Jeremiah, stubbornly chose to flee to Egypt. This chapter serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting divine guidance and highlights God's sovereignty over all nations.
Rejection of God's Word (Jeremiah 43:1-7)
After Jeremiah delivered God's message to remain in Judah and trust in His protection (Jeremiah 42), the people, led by Johanan and other commanders, openly accused Jeremiah of lying (Jeremiah 43:2). They even went so far as to accuse Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, of conspiring against them, suggesting he influenced Jeremiah to deliver a false prophecy designed to deliver them into the hands of the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 43:3). This reveals not only their distrust of God's word but also their deep-seated animosity towards those who faithfully proclaimed it.
Fueled by fear and arrogance, Johanan and his fellow commanders disregarded God's explicit instructions and led the people, including Jeremiah and Baruch (who were likely taken against their will), on a journey to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:4-7). Their destination was Tahpanhes, a city in northern Egypt, whose name interestingly means "palace of the Negro." This act of defiance underscores the deceitfulness of their hearts. They had pretended to seek God's counsel (Jeremiah 42:5-6) but were determined to follow their own desires. Many consult God as if willing to be directed by Him but secretly resolve to be directed by their own lusts.
Prophecy of Judgment in Egypt (Jeremiah 43:8-13)
Even in Egypt, God's word pursued the rebellious remnant. God instructed Jeremiah to perform a symbolic act: embedding large stones in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance of Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes (Jeremiah 43:9). This was to be a public sign, witnessed by the very people who sought refuge in Egypt.
Jeremiah then prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, would come and set his throne upon those very stones (Jeremiah 43:10). This meant that the Babylonian army, which they feared and sought to escape, would invade Egypt and bring the same destruction they had witnessed in Judah. The Lord of Armies (Jeremiah 43:10), a title frequently used by Jeremiah, would demonstrate His power and control over all nations, proving that no place could offer refuge from His judgment.
The prophecy detailed the extent of Nebuchadnezzar's conquest. He would strike the land of Egypt (Jeremiah 43:10), delivering some to death (likely through plague), others to captivity, and others to the sword (Jeremiah 43:11). He would also set fire to the temples of the Egyptian gods (Jeremiah 43:12), exposing their powerlessness and bringing shame upon their worshippers. Furthermore, Nebuchadnezzar would carry away the idols of Egypt as spoils of war, mocking their long-held status as deities (Jeremiah 43:12). He would conquer Egypt with ease, like a shepherd putting on a garment (Jeremiah 43:12), and then depart in peace and prosperity. Finally, he would break down the obelisks of Beth-shemesh (Heliopolis, a city dedicated to sun worship) and burn the temples of the Egyptian gods (Jeremiah 43:13).
This prophecy served as a powerful reminder that fleeing from God's presence does not equate to escaping His judgment. The people sought safety in Egypt, trusting in its military might, but God revealed that their refuge would become the very place of their demise.
Lessons and Implications
Jeremiah 43 offers several important lessons:
- The Futility of Disobedience: The chapter vividly illustrates the consequences of rejecting God's clear instructions. Despite God's promises of protection and provision if they remained in Judah, the people chose to follow their own fears and desires, leading them to further suffering.
- God's Sovereignty Over All Nations: God's prophecy concerning Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Egypt demonstrates His ultimate control over world events. He uses nations as instruments to carry out His purposes, both for judgment and for blessing.
- The Importance of Heeding Prophetic Warnings: The people of Judah disregarded Jeremiah's warnings, leading to their downfall. This highlights the importance of listening to and heeding the word of God, even when it is difficult or challenging.
- No Escape from God's Judgment: The remnant of Judah sought refuge in Egypt, hoping to escape the reach of the Babylonian army. However, God's judgment followed them, demonstrating that there is no place to hide from His justice.
- Idolatry's Emptiness: The prophecy of the destruction of Egyptian idols reveals the emptiness and powerlessness of false gods. True security and protection can only be found in the one true God.
Jeremiah 43 serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience, trust in God's sovereignty, and the futility of seeking refuge in anything other than Him. It is a call to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are truly seeking God's will, not just paying lip service to it.
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,
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:
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.
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.
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;
Even men, and women, and children, and the king’s daughters, and every person that Nebuzar–adan 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.
So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.
Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,
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;
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.
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 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.
He shall break also the images of Beth–shemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.
II. A prophecy concerning the destruction of Egypt by the king of Babylon, Jeremiah 43:8-43:13. God would not leave these disobedient people without a warning, though they had so impiously cast off his authority, but follows them into Egypt with a message. Observe, 1. How this message was delivered. Jeremiah was to take great stones, and lay them for a sign in the clay in the brick-kiln which was at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, Jeremiah 43:9. He must do it publicly, in the sight of the Jews that were come thither; they would ask what he meant by it, and then he must tell them the meaning. Note, It is good to explain signs, lest, when the thing signified comes to pass, the sign be forgotten or not understood. Jeremiah must tell them that God would certainly bring Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, into that land, and that he should set his throne upon those very stones which he now laid, Jeremiah 43:10. This would be a lasting monument of the fulfilling of the prophecy, that, when Nebuchadnezzar had thus taken possession of Egypt, those who remembered the laying of the stones might say with triumph, “Now we see that the word of the Lord is fulfilled.” Note, God has ways of making those that revolt from him know that they cannot escape him. 2. What the message itself was. It is here foretold, (1.) That Nebuchadnezzar should conquer Egypt, and that part of it particularly where they now were. He shall come and smite the land of Egypt, Jeremiah 43:10. The Jews thought they had now got into a place of safety, but they were deceived; the sword of the king of Babylon should find them out there. (2.) That he should destroy the idols of Egypt. Some he should deliver to death, to the plague (for that is the death here intended), others to captivity, and others to the sword, according as they were sentenced by divine justice, Jeremiah 43:11. And upon the houses of the gods of Egypt will he kindle a fire, Jeremiah 43:12. The temples, and all the ornaments of them, shall be burnt. Thus shall the gods of Egypt be ashamed, and their worshippers with them, and God will be glorified in the destruction of them. (3.) That he should carry away captive the images of their gods, as trophies of his victory, and in contempt of those that had been so long worshipped as deities. He shall array himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd puts on his garment, that is, he shall take possession of it with as much ease as a man puts on his clothes; it shall be entirely at his command, and he shall enrich himself with the spoil of it as a man wraps himself in a warm garment. And then he shall go forth from thence in peace and prosperity. (4.) That he should break down the statues of their gods, and burn their temples, Jeremiah 43:13. Beth-shemesh signifies the house of the sun; it was Heliopolis, a city that worshipped the sun, and had images consecrated to it; these Nebuchadnezzar should break down, and burn the houses of the gods of Egypt. This prophecy was fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Egypt, of which we have a short account, Ezekiel 29:19, 29:20. Thus God would convince those that went into Egypt for safety that they should not have gone thither, for they could not avoid the judgments of God by going out of the way of their duty.
Jeremiah 43 recounts the blatant disobedience of the remnant of Judah who, despite clear warnings and promises from God through Jeremiah, stubbornly chose to flee to Egypt. This chapter serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting divine guidance and highlights God's sovereignty over all nations.
Rejection of God's Word (Jeremiah 43:1-7)
After Jeremiah delivered God's message to remain in Judah and trust in His protection (Jeremiah 42), the people, led by Johanan and other commanders, openly accused Jeremiah of lying (Jeremiah 43:2). They even went so far as to accuse Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, of conspiring against them, suggesting he influenced Jeremiah to deliver a false prophecy designed to deliver them into the hands of the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 43:3). This reveals not only their distrust of God's word but also their deep-seated animosity towards those who faithfully proclaimed it.
Fueled by fear and arrogance, Johanan and his fellow commanders disregarded God's explicit instructions and led the people, including Jeremiah and Baruch (who were likely taken against their will), on a journey to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:4-7). Their destination was Tahpanhes, a city in northern Egypt, whose name interestingly means "palace of the Negro." This act of defiance underscores the deceitfulness of their hearts. They had pretended to seek God's counsel (Jeremiah 42:5-6) but were determined to follow their own desires. Many consult God as if willing to be directed by Him but secretly resolve to be directed by their own lusts.
Prophecy of Judgment in Egypt (Jeremiah 43:8-13)
Even in Egypt, God's word pursued the rebellious remnant. God instructed Jeremiah to perform a symbolic act: embedding large stones in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance of Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes (Jeremiah 43:9). This was to be a public sign, witnessed by the very people who sought refuge in Egypt.
Jeremiah then prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, would come and set his throne upon those very stones (Jeremiah 43:10). This meant that the Babylonian army, which they feared and sought to escape, would invade Egypt and bring the same destruction they had witnessed in Judah. The Lord of Armies (Jeremiah 43:10), a title frequently used by Jeremiah, would demonstrate His power and control over all nations, proving that no place could offer refuge from His judgment.
The prophecy detailed the extent of Nebuchadnezzar's conquest. He would strike the land of Egypt (Jeremiah 43:10), delivering some to death (likely through plague), others to captivity, and others to the sword (Jeremiah 43:11). He would also set fire to the temples of the Egyptian gods (Jeremiah 43:12), exposing their powerlessness and bringing shame upon their worshippers. Furthermore, Nebuchadnezzar would carry away the idols of Egypt as spoils of war, mocking their long-held status as deities (Jeremiah 43:12). He would conquer Egypt with ease, like a shepherd putting on a garment (Jeremiah 43:12), and then depart in peace and prosperity. Finally, he would break down the obelisks of Beth-shemesh (Heliopolis, a city dedicated to sun worship) and burn the temples of the Egyptian gods (Jeremiah 43:13).
This prophecy served as a powerful reminder that fleeing from God's presence does not equate to escaping His judgment. The people sought safety in Egypt, trusting in its military might, but God revealed that their refuge would become the very place of their demise.
Lessons and Implications
Jeremiah 43 offers several important lessons:
- The Futility of Disobedience: The chapter vividly illustrates the consequences of rejecting God's clear instructions. Despite God's promises of protection and provision if they remained in Judah, the people chose to follow their own fears and desires, leading them to further suffering.
- God's Sovereignty Over All Nations: God's prophecy concerning Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Egypt demonstrates His ultimate control over world events. He uses nations as instruments to carry out His purposes, both for judgment and for blessing.
- The Importance of Heeding Prophetic Warnings: The people of Judah disregarded Jeremiah's warnings, leading to their downfall. This highlights the importance of listening to and heeding the word of God, even when it is difficult or challenging.
- No Escape from God's Judgment: The remnant of Judah sought refuge in Egypt, hoping to escape the reach of the Babylonian army. However, God's judgment followed them, demonstrating that there is no place to hide from His justice.
- Idolatry's Emptiness: The prophecy of the destruction of Egyptian idols reveals the emptiness and powerlessness of false gods. True security and protection can only be found in the one true God.
Jeremiah 43 serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience, trust in God's sovereignty, and the futility of seeking refuge in anything other than Him. It is a call to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are truly seeking God's will, not just paying lip service to it.