Jeremiah 43:9

Take 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;

Take great stones - to be laid as the foundation beneath Nebuchadnezzar's throne ().

Clay - mortar.

Brick-kiln. Bricks in that hot country are generally dried in the sun, not burned. The palace of Pharaoh was being built or repaired at this time: hence, arose the mortar and brick-kiln at the entry. Of the same materials as Pharaoh's house was built of, the substructure of Nebuchadnezzar's throne should be constructed by a visible symbol implying that the throne of the latter shall be raised on the downfall of the former. Egypt at that time contended with Babylon for the empire of the East.