Major Prophets · Chapter 43 of 52
Jeremiah 43
When Jeremiah finishes delivering God's warning, the leaders accuse him of lying, blaming Baruch for a plot to hand them to Babylon. Defying God's word, Johanan leads the whole remnant, including Jeremiah and Baruch, down into Egypt to Tahpanhes. There God tells Jeremiah to bury large stones at Pharaoh's entrance as a sign that Nebuchadnezzar, God's servant, will come, set his throne on that spot, and strike Egypt, burning its temples and gods.
What happens in Jeremiah 43
As soon as Jeremiah finishes speaking all God's words, Azariah, Johanan, and the proud men accuse him of lying, insisting God did not send him to forbid Egypt. They charge that Baruch has incited him to deliver them to the Chaldeans. Refusing to obey God's voice, Johanan and the captains take the entire remnant of Judah, including the king's daughters, Jeremiah, and Baruch, and go down into Egypt, arriving at Tahpanhes. There God's word comes to Jeremiah: he is to take large stones and hide them in the clay at the entrance of Pharaoh's house in the sight of the men of Judah.
Then he is to declare that God will send for Nebuchadnezzar, his servant, who will set his throne upon those very stones and spread his canopy over them. Babylon will strike Egypt, giving to death, captivity, and sword whomever is due, burning the temples of Egypt's gods and departing unharmed, breaking the sacred pillars of Bethshemesh.
Jeremiah 43 in context
Fresh from asking Jeremiah for guidance and vowing to obey, the remnant now openly defies God's clear word and flees to Egypt around 586 BC, dragging the prophet along. Tahpanhes was a fortified city in the eastern Nile delta.
The buried stones enact a prophecy that even Egypt, their hoped for refuge, would fall to Nebuchadnezzar, whom God startlingly calls his servant, showing that no place lies beyond his reach or his judgment.
Main themes of Jeremiah 43
Jeremiah 43 (KJV)
1And 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, 2Then 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: 3But 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. 4So 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. 5But 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; 6Even men, and women, and children, and the king’s daughters, and every person that 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. 7So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes. 8Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9Take 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; 10And 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. 11And 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. 12And 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. 13He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.
Verses to carry from Jeremiah 43
“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:”Jeremiah 43:2
“So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.”Jeremiah 43:7
“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.”Jeremiah 43:10
Thematic connection
How Jeremiah 43 points to Jesus
This chapter carries no direct messianic prophecy, but its patterns speak into the gospel. The remnant's flight down to Egypt in defiance of God's word forms a dark contrast to the exodus story and to the child Jesus, whom God called out of Egypt in fulfillment of Hosea, the true and obedient Israel who goes where God directs. Where this generation runs to Egypt in rebellion and finds judgment, Christ is brought to and from Egypt in perfect submission to the Father's will and brings salvation.
The chapter's insistence that no refuge lies beyond God's reach, and that even a pagan king serves his purposes, points to the God whose sovereign rule over the nations is finally revealed in the crucified and risen Lord to whom all authority is given. The connection is thematic.
Questions about Jeremiah 43
Why did the leaders accuse Jeremiah of lying?
Because his message contradicted what they had already decided to do. They intended to flee to Egypt, and God's word through Jeremiah forbade it. Rather than obey, they declared the prophecy false and blamed Baruch for manipulating Jeremiah against them. It is a classic move of a hardened heart: when God's word blocks our chosen path, we discredit the messenger instead of submitting. Their charge was baseless, driven by rebellion, not evidence.
In what sense is Nebuchadnezzar called God's servant?
God calls the pagan king his servant because he is an instrument accomplishing God's purposes, here bringing judgment on Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar did not worship the LORD, yet God sovereignly used his conquests to fulfill his word. The title shows that God rules over all nations and rulers, bending even those who do not know him to his ends. It underscores that no empire or idol stands outside his control and judgment.
Reflection
The remnant fled to what looked safe and ran straight into God's word of judgment. We cannot outrun God by relocating to a place his word forbids. Is there a decision you are defending by quietly deciding the truth that opposes it must be wrong? Better to submit to God's word than to discredit it and flee.
A prayer from Jeremiah 43
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