Jeremiah Chapter 43 — The Flight to Egypt
After accusing Jeremiah of lying, the leaders of Judah disobey God's command and flee to Egypt, taking the prophet and the remnant with them.
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.’ ”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Jeremiah 43:2
“then 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;’"”
This verse marks the explicit rejection of Jeremiah's prophetic authority by the leaders of the remnant.
Jeremiah 43:7
“They came into the land of Egypt, for they didn’t obey the LORD’s voice; and they came to Tahpanhes.”
This verse records the definitive act of disobedience as the people cross the border into Egypt.
Jeremiah 43:10
“Tell 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.'”
It reveals that the very enemy the people feared would follow them and conquer their place of refuge.
Chapter Summary
In Jeremiah 43, the remnant of Judah openly rebels against the word of God. After Jeremiah delivers the message that they should remain in Judah, leaders like Azariah and Johanan accuse him of speaking falsely, claiming he is being influenced by Baruch. Disregarding the divine warning, they lead the remaining people—including women, children, and Jeremiah himself—into the land of Egypt, settling in Tahpanhes. While there, the Lord gives Jeremiah a new prophecy. He is commanded to bury large stones in the mortar of the brickwork at the entry of Pharaoh’s house as a sign. God declares that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, will come to Egypt and set his throne upon those very stones. The prophecy warns that the Babylonian conquest will bring death, captivity, and the destruction of Egyptian temples and idols, showing that the people cannot escape God's judgment by fleeing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Azariah, Johanan, and other 'proud men' refused to believe that God would command them to stay in a devastated Judah. They claimed Jeremiah was being influenced by his scribe, Baruch, to deliver them into the hands of the Babylonians.
The text states that they came to the city of Tahpanhes, which was a significant fortress town located in the eastern Nile Delta.
God told Jeremiah to bury large stones in the mortar of the brickwork at the entrance of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes to show where Nebuchadnezzar would later place his throne.
God refers to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, as His servant, indicating that Nebuchadnezzar was the instrument God was using to execute judgment on Egypt and the rebellious Judeans.
Study Note
The city of Tahpanhes is identified by historians as Daphnae, a location that served as a primary entry point for foreigners entering Egypt from the east.
Related Chapters
Jeremiah 42
Jeremiah 42 contains the original warning from God that the people chose to ignore in chapter 43.
Jeremiah 44
The story continues in chapter 44 with Jeremiah's final prophecies to the Judeans living in Egypt.
Ezekiel 29
Ezekiel also provides prophecies regarding the Babylonian conquest of Egypt.
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