Jeremiah 43
OGCREVIEW OF CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I. Facts to Master
The choice which the Chaldeans gave to Jeremiah at Riblah (Jeremiah 40:4).
The man the Chaldeans appointed governor (Jeremiah 40:9).
The headquarters of Gedaliah and the new home of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 40:6; Jeremiah 40:10).
Names of the king of Ammon and the Jewish officer who plotted against Gedaliah (Jeremiah 40:14).
The various ones slain by Ishmael (Jeremiah 41:2-5).
Place where Ishmael buried those he had slain (Jeremiah 41:9).
Place to which Ishmael was attempting to flee after the assassination of Gedaliah (Jeremiah 41:10).
The captain who rescued the hostages (Jeremiah 41:11).
Place at which the rescue took place (Jeremiah 41:12).
Fate of Ishmael (Jeremiah 41:15).
The request which the captains made of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 42:1-3).
Amount of time which elapsed before the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 42:7).
Substance of Jeremiah’s advice to the remnant (Jeremiah 42:8-22).
The one the captains blamed for the oracle of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 43:3).
Place in Egypt to which the remnant came (Jeremiah 43:7).
That which Jeremiah was commanded to do in Egypt (Jeremiah 43:9).
Substance of the threat which followed the above act (Jeremiah 43:10-13).
Locations in Egypt where Jews had settled (Jeremiah 44:1).
The accusation Jeremiah made against the remnant in Egypt (Jeremiah 44:7-8).
The threat against the remnant in Egypt (Jeremiah 44:12; Jeremiah 44:14).
The goddess being worshiped by the remnant (Jeremiah 44:17).
The oath which God had taken regarding the remnant in Egypt (Jeremiah 44:26).
The name of the Egyptian pharaoh who would be given into the hands of his enemy as a sign (Jeremiah 44:30).
The person to whom Jeremiah directed a personal word (Jeremiah 45:1).
The time and occasion of the oracle in chapter 45.
II. Questions to Ponder
Why were the Chaldeans so kind to Jeremiah? (Jeremiah 39:11-14; Jeremiah 40:4-5).
What were Jews doing in foreign countries? Why did they come back after the destruction of Jerusalem? (Jeremiah 40:11-12)
Why did Gedaliah refuse the warnings of his faithful officers concerning the plot against his life? (Jeremiah 40:13-16)
Where were the eighty going to worship? Why the signs of mourning? Why no sacrificial animals? (Jeremiah 41:5)
Why did Ishmael slay these pilgrims? (Jeremiah 41:7) Why take the rest of the people in Mizpah captive? (Jeremiah 41:10)
Why does the narrator go into so much detail concerning the administration of assassination of Gedaliah?
Were the captains sincere in asking Jeremiah to seek divine guidance for the remnant? (Jeremiah 42:1-6; Jeremiah 43:2)
What is the meaning of Beth-shemesh? To what Egyptian city is Jeremiah likely referring? (Jeremiah 43:13)
Why so much emphasis on the destruction of Egyptian temples? (Jeremiah 43:12-13)
Summarize the argument for idolatry which the remnant offered in response to Jeremiah’s denunciation. (Jeremiah 44:17-19)
Summarize the rebuttal which Jeremiah gave to the women in Egypt (Jeremiah 44:20-23)
Would all the remnant in Egypt perish in war? (See 43:14; Jeremiah 44:28)
In what way would the death of Pharaoh Hophra be a sign to the Jews? What were the circumstances of his death?
Why did Baruch feel self-pity? (Jeremiah 45:3)
How does God deal with the self-pity of this disciple? (Jeremiah 45:4)
What is the meaning of the words I will give you your life for a prey?
What other great men of God experienced self-pity? How did God deal with them?
Jeremiah 43:1-7
- The rashness of the leaders (Jeremiah 43:1-7)
TRANSLATION
(1) And it came to pass after Jeremiah finished speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God which the LORD their God sent him, even all these words, (2) that Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men began saying unto Jeremiah, You are speaking falsehood! The LORD our God did not send you to say, Do not go to Egypt to sojourn there. (3) But Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us in order to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans that they might slay us or take us captive to Babylon. (4) And Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the officers of the forces, and all the people would not obey the voice of the LORD to dwell in the land of Judah. (5) And Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the officers of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah who had returned from all the nations to which the LORD had driven them in order to sojourn in the land of Judah(6) the men, women, children, and daughters of the king, even every soul which Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah; (7) and they went to the land of Egypt for they would not obey the voice of the LORD. And they came to Tahpanhes,
COMMENTS
While the people heard the prophet, it was obvious that the word of God was not getting through to them. Scarcely had he finished speaking when opposition arose. A certain Azariah, most likely a brother of Jezaniah (Jeremiah 42:1),[356] seems to have assumed the role of chief spokesman. Joining with him were all the proud men. The Hebrew word used here is used of those arrogant, insolent loud mouths who have the audacity to speak out against God and question His word. You are a liar! they yelled at the prophet. God did not send you to say, -Do not go down to Egypt!-’ They did not attempt to answer Jeremiah’s arguments; instead they challenge his integrity and veracity. They point the finger of accusation at Baruch and hurl a groundless but vicious charge at the faithful scribe: Baruch has set you against us in order to give us into the hands of the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 43:3). Just what the basis of this violent outburst against Baruch was is not made clear. Defiant disobedience must be rationalized and Baruch was made the scapegoat. Perhaps he was in the employ of the Chaldeans in some capacity. At any rate the attack made against him was patently absurd. Jeremiah does not even bother to try to dissuade the crowd, which by this time had become a mob, from their course of action. Unbelief had hardened into apostasy. The die was cast. To Egypt they would go.
[356] Some scholars think that Jezahiah of Jer 42:1 and the Azariah here are one and the same. Both are said to be the son of Hoshaiah.
Having determined to disobey the commandment of God, Johanan instructed the people to hastily make preparation for the flight to Egypt. Too much time had already been wasted waiting on Jeremiah to deliver his oracle. They could feel, so they thought, Nebuchadnezzar breathing down their neck. Therefore all the men, women, children, and the king’s daughters are told to pack their meager belongings for the trip southward. Jeremiah and Baruch are both listed among those who went down to Egypt, It is impossible to imagine that this faithful man of God agreed to join the refugees of his own accord since he knew that the whole venture was contrary to the will of God. The angry leaders must have forced the old man and his faithful companion to go with them in order that they might share whatever fate awaited the group in Egypt.
One of the saddest verses in the whole book of Jeremiah is Jeremiah 43:7. So they come into the land of Egypt; for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord; thus they came even to Tahpanhes. How ironical. The Israelites, who tine hundred years earlier had been delivered from Egypt, have now returned. Those who were seeking peace and security were marching into the jaws of death. Those who were trying to avoid confrontation with Nebuchadnezzar would shortly face their dreaded foe on foreign soil. The remnant ended their flight at Tahpanhes (modern Daphne), a fortress city just inside the Egyptian border.
Jeremiah 43:8-13
II. EVENTS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT
Jeremiah 43:8 to Jeremiah 44:30
It is impossible to determine precisely what year the Jews immigrated to Egypt. The year 583 or 582 B.C. would probably not be far wrong. This conjecture is based on the fact that the armies of Nebuchadnezzar arrived in the land of Judah in 582 B.C. to punish the Jews for the death of Gedaliah. Therefore it would seem appropriate to assume that the flight to Egypt had occurred shortly before the coming of the Chaldeans. The present section contains the last recorded oracle of Jeremiah. That oracle was delivered before the death of Pharaoh Hophra in 569 B.C. Therefore, Jeremiah 43:8 to Jeremiah 44:30 covers at the maximum a period of thirteen years, from 583 to 570 B.C. However, the likelihood is that the actual number of years covered here is less than half the maximum figure.
A. A Prophetic Announcement Jeremiah 43:8-13
TRANSLATION
(8) And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, (9) Take in your hand large stones and hide them in the mortar in the brick pavement which is at the entrance of the house of Pharaoh in Tahpanhes in the presence of the men of Judah. (10) Then say unto them, Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am about to send and take Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, My servant, that I may set up his throne over these stones which I have hidden; and he shall stretch out his canopy over them. (11) When he comes he will smite the land of Egypt; such as are appointed to death, to death, those appointed to exile, to exile, and those appointed to the sword, to the sword. (12) And I will kindle a fire in the house of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them or carry them away captive. He will wrap himself in the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps his garment about him; and he shall go out from that place unmolested. (13) And he shall break down the images of Bethshemesh which is in the land of Egypt and he will burn the houses of the gods of Egypt.
COMMENTS
Jeremiah did not cease from his prophetic activity in the land of Egypt. Indeed the final three oracles of his ministry were delivered on Egyptian soil. In the first of these Jeremiah elaborates upon the warning which he made to the remnant at their encampment near Bethlehem. He boldly predicts that Nebuchadnezzar would attempt to conquer Egypt and the remnant would greatly suffer in the ensuing war.
- Announcement of coming invasion (Jeremiah 43:8-10)
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah at Tahpanhes situated at the eastern edge of the Egyptian Delta, some seven miles west of the Suez Canal. At one time, before it dried up, the Pelusior branch of the Nile flowed past the site. The city was one of the major fortresses guarding the eastern entrance into Egypt. It was also an important commercial center, since all the caravans going to and from Egypt passed through there. The site was excavated by Sir Flinders Petrie, the famous British archaeologist, in 1886. He found the native name of the place to be Qasr Bent el Yehudi, palace of the Jew’s daughter. This name had for centuries preserved the memory of the visit of Zedekiah’s daughters following the collapse of the kingdom of Judah.
Shortly after the Jews arrived in Tahpanhes Jeremiah delivered his first oracle to them (Jeremiah 43:8). No doubt the exiles would be compelled to halt here in order to secure permission from the Egyptian government to sojourn in their land. As on so many occasions in his ministry Jeremiah chose to dramatize his message. Now God instructed him to take great stones. and hide them in the mortar in the brickwork, which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes (Jeremiah 43:9). Pharaoh’s house is not the royal palacethat was located at Saisbut a government building of some sort which Pharaoh used as his residence when in Tahpanhes. The brickwork (ASV) is most likely the brick pavement at the entrance of this royal residence. Sir Flinders Petrie discovered a large brick platform at the main entrance of the fortress in Tahpanhes. This platform may well have been the very place where the Lord instructed Jeremiah to bury the large stones.
Just how Jeremiah was able to perform this act is not stated. Some scholars think it was done at night. On the other hand, the native Egyptians may have regarded Jeremiah as insane and therefore have tolerated his actions, But this much is certain: The men of Judah were present to observe the prophet performing this strange act. When Jeremiah had finished burying the stones beneath the brickwork he rose to make a startling announcement. He predicted that Nebuchadnezzar would come to Egypt and place his throne on the very spot where the stones were hidden (Jeremiah 43:10). Here on this very spot the Great King would spread his royal canopy (Jeremiah 43:10).[357] This is probably not the tent where the king would reside but an awning or covering borne by attendants designed to protect the monarch from the rays of the sun.
[357] The Hebrew word occurs only here and is of uncertain meaning. Though canopy seems to be the best translation, some have suggested carpet as the best translation.
- Consequences of the coming invasion (Jeremiah 43:11-13)
The invasion of Nebuchadnezzar would have terrible consequences for the inhabitants of Egypt and for the Jews who were seeking refuge there. Some would die of deadly wounds suffered in battle, others from famine which would result when cities were besieged. Still others would be carried away into captivity or given over to the sword of the executioner (Jeremiah 43:11).
Nebuchadnezzar would have no respect for the gods of Egypt. He would put the torch to the temples of the land and carry their images away to Babylon as trophies of war. He will break the images of Beth-shemesh as well. The word translated here images is the same word rendered pillar in Isaiah 19:19. In both of these passages the word probably refers to the obelisk. Beth-shemesh means house of the sun. The place was called Heliopolis by the Greeks and On by the Egyptians. It is located near the southern point of the Egyptian Delta region a few miles south of Tahpanhes and about ten miles northeast of modern Cairo. A famous temple dedicated to the sun was located here which had in front of it a row of obelisks. It is to these obelisks that the present passage points. When the geographer Strabo visited the city twenty years before Christ it was already a heap of ruins. Nothing now remains of the city but some traces of the massive walls, fragments of sphinxes and an obelisk of red granite sixty-eight feet high.
Jeremiah’s prediction of a Chaldean invasion of Egypt were fulfilled in a marvelous way. The Jewish historian Josephus tells of an invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar five years after the fall of Jerusalem. In this invasion the king of Egypt was killed and the Jews in Egypt carried away captive to Babylonian.[358] Many scholars questioned the accuracy of the Josephus account until a fragmentary inscription[359] from the archives of Nebuchadnezzar was discovered which told of a Chaldean invasion of Egypt. To be sure this invasion did not occur until the thirty-seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar, nineteen years after the fall of Jerusalem (i.e., 568 B.C.). This fragment certainly establishes the fact that punitive campaigns to Egypt could be part of Nebuchadnezzar’s foreign policy. The fragment suggests that the purpose of the Great King was not permanent conquest. Rather Nebuchadnezzar was aiming to cripple Egypt so as to prevent Pharaoh from ever again meddling in Syria-Palestine. Pharaoh Amasis (570-526 B.C.) who ruled Egypt at the time was able to retain his throne. Subsequent to the invasion he seems to have maintained friendly relations with Babylon. Jeremiah’s prophecy does not demand a lengthy subjugation of Egypt and therefore it may be regarded as fulfilled by one or both of the invasions mentioned above.
[358] Josephus, Antiquities, X. 9. 7.
[359] See Ancient Near Wastern Texts, op. cit., p. 308. The tablet, now in the British Museum, has unfortunately been badly damaged.