Jeremiah 2:16

Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.

Noph ... Tahapanes - Noph is Memphis, capital of Lower Egypt, on the west bank of the Nile, near the pyramids of Gizeh, opposite the site of modern Cairo. Tahapanes is Daphne, on the Tanitic branch of the Nile, near Pelusium, on the frontier of Egypt toward Palestine. Isaiah, , contracts it Hanes. These two cities, one the capital, the other that with which the Jews came most in contact, stand for the whole of Egypt. Tahapanes takes its name from a goddess, Tphnet (Champollion). Memphis is from Man-nofri, 'the abode of good men:' written in Hebrew, 'Moph' (), or Noph. The reference is to the coming invasion of Judah by Pharaoh-nechoh of Egypt, on his return from the Euphrates, when he deposed Jehoahaz, raised Eliakim, under the name Jehoiakim, to the throne, and levied a heavy tribute on the land (). Josiah's death in battle at Megiddo with the same Pharaoh is probably included ().

Have broken - rather, 'shall feed down the crown,' etc. - i:e., affect with the greatest ignominy, such as baldness was regarded in the East. (; , The mocking children at Bethel said to Elisha, "Go up thou bald head!") Instead of 'also,' translate, 'even' the Egyptians, in whom thou dost trust, shall miserably disappoint thy expectation (Maurer). Jehoiakim was twice leagued with them (): when he received the crown from them, and when he revolted from Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1; ). The Chaldeans, having become masters of Asia, threatened Egypt. Judea, situated between the contending powers, was thus exposed to the inroads of the one or other of the hostile armies; and unfortunately, except in Josiah's reign, took side with Egypt, contrary to God's warnings. Nebuchadnezzar "took from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt" ().