Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Jeremiah 43
Jeremiah 43:2Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, "You are telling a lie. The Lord our God did not send you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to live there,'
The leaders call Jeremiah a liar because his message from God doesn't match their personal plans. This shows how easily we can dismiss the truth when it makes us uncomfortable.Jeremiah 43:7So they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.
The people arrive in Egypt, directly violating God's command. Their arrival in Tahpanhes marks a symbolic reversal of the Exodus, returning to the land of their former slavery.Jeremiah 43:10and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden, and he will spread his royal canopy over them.
God declares that Nebuchadnezzar will set his throne in Egypt. This proves that the people's attempt to find safety in Egypt was completely useless against God's plan.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Rejection of God's Word
After the fall of Jerusalem, the small group of survivors asked Jeremiah to pray for God's direction. In the previous chapter, God told them clearly to stay in Judah and promised to protect them, but warned that going to Egypt would bring death and disaster. Now, as Jeremiah finishes delivering this message, the leaders react with anger and denial.
The Flight to Egypt
The leaders, led by Johanan and Azariah, refuse to believe Jeremiah. They accuse his assistant, Baruch, of manipulating the prophet to hand them over to the Babylonians. They gather everyone left in the land - including the king's daughters and Jeremiah himself - and force them to migrate to Egypt, eventually settling in the border city of Tahpanhes.
A Prophecy of Coming Ruin
Once they arrive in Egypt, God gives Jeremiah another message. He is told to perform a symbolic act by burying large stones in the pavement of Pharaoh's palace. This act serves as a visual prophecy that the very Babylonian king they were running from would eventually conquer Egypt and set up his royal tent right over those stones.
The Rebellion and the Result
In Jeremiah 43:1-13, the scene shifts from the ruins of Judah to the gates of Egypt. The people, driven by fear of the Babylonians, choose to ignore God's specific instructions, leading to a confrontation that proves God's word follows them wherever they go.
Accusations of Deceit (Jeremiah 43:1-3)
1 When Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people all these words of the Lord their God, with which the Lord their God had sent him to them,
2 Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, "You are telling a lie. The Lord our God did not send you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to live there,'
3 but Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may kill us or take us into exile in Babylon."
Commentary:
The leaders accuse Jeremiah of lying because they don't like God's instructions.
The Great Migration (Jeremiah 43:4-7)
4 So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces and all the people did not obey the voice of the Lord to remain in the land of Judah.
5 But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to live in the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been driven -
6 the men, the women, the children, the princesses, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan; also Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah.
7 So they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.
Commentary:
The people disobey God and flee to Egypt, seeking safety in a forbidden land.
The Sign of the Hidden Stones (Jeremiah 43:8-10)
8 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes:
9 "Take large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the pavement that is at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah,"
10 and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden, and he will spread his royal canopy over them.
Commentary:
Jeremiah buries stones to show that Babylon will eventually conquer Egypt.
The Destruction of Egypt's Gods (Jeremiah 43:11-13)
11 He shall come and strike the land of Egypt, giving over to the pestilence those who are doomed to the pestilence, to captivity those who are doomed to captivity, and to the sword those who are doomed to the sword.
12 He shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them and carry them away captive. And he shall clean the land of Egypt as a shepherd cleans his cloak of vermin, and he shall go away from there in peace.
13 He shall break the obelisks of Heliopolis, which is in the land of Egypt, and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall burn with fire.”
Commentary:
God predicts that Egypt's temples and idols will be destroyed by Babylon.
Spiritual Lessons from the Flight to Egypt
The Deception of Fear
The people were so afraid of the Babylonians that they became blind to God's past faithfulness. Fear drove them to make a 'logical' choice that was spiritually disastrous, showing that when we let anxiety lead us, we often run toward the very things that will harm us.
The Sovereignty of God
By calling Nebuchadnezzar His 'servant,' God reminds us that He is the ultimate authority over world history. No political power or geographic border can stop God's plans from being carried out, whether for blessing or for judgment.
The Danger of Selective Listening
The people asked for God's guidance but only intended to follow it if it matched their desires. This chapter warns against 'consulting' God as a formality while our hearts are already made up to do something else.
Applying Jeremiah 43 to Our Lives
In Jeremiah 43:2, the leaders called the truth a lie because it didn't fit their agenda. Examine your heart to see if you are dismissing biblical truths because they are inconvenient or require you to change your current path.
The people fled to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:7) because it looked stable and secure compared to Judah. You might be tempted to trust in your bank account, your career, or your own cleverness for security, but this chapter reminds you that true safety only exists within God's will.
God used a pagan king to fulfill His word (Jeremiah 43:10). This teaches you that even when circumstances or people seem overwhelming and out of control, God is still working behind the scenes to accomplish His purposes for your life.
God's Word Follows You Everywhere
Jeremiah 43 illustrates that we cannot outrun God's word or His sovereign plans. When the remnant of Judah chose to flee to Egypt, they were not merely changing their address. They were attempting to escape the consequences of their own history. However, God met them at the very gates of their supposed refuge to show that He is Lord of every land. The message is clear: peace is found in trusting God's presence where you are, rather than seeking a sanctuary where He has told you not to go.
What This Means for Us Today
Obedience is the only path to true peace. The people of Judah learned the hard way that running from God's instructions only leads to the very things we fear most. Today, we are invited to stop running and find our rest in the one who holds the future of every nation in His hands.
- Is there a specific area of your life where you are currently 'running to Egypt'?
- How can you choose to trust God's word today, even if it feels risky?
- What 'hidden stones' of God's promises can you build your life on this week?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
The people ask Jeremiah to pray for guidance and promise to obey whatever God says.
Jeremiah confronts the people in Egypt for their continued idolatry and stubbornness.
Connections Across Scripture
The original departure from Egypt, where God told the people they would never see the Egyptians again.
A parallel prophecy where God promises to give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar as wages for his work.
A warning against those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses instead of the Holy One of Israel.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the leaders blamed Baruch for Jeremiah's message instead of blaming Jeremiah himself?
- The people thought Egypt was a place of peace and plenty. What are some modern-day 'Egypts' that people run to for a sense of false security?
- How does the image of Nebuchadnezzar setting his throne on the hidden stones change your perspective on God's control over difficult situations?
Glossary
places
figures
Johanan
A military leader who initially helped the survivors but eventually led the rebellion against Jeremiah's advice.
Baruch
Jeremiah's faithful scribe and assistant who was falsely accused of influencing the prophet's messages.
Nebuchadnezzar
The powerful king of Babylon whom God used as an instrument of judgment against Judah and Egypt.