Jeremiah 46:2-12

A). Oracle Concerning Nebuchadrezzar's Defeat Of The Egyptian Army At Carchemish In 605 BC (Jeremiah 46:2).

The importance of this prophesy to a people reeling under the unexpected death of their good and godly king Josiah, and who now as a consequence found themselves under tribute to Egypt, with their king held hostage, is clear. It was an indication that God had taken note of affairs and would eventually punish Egypt accordingly.

Yet whilst it may well be that Jeremiah had seen this defeat as punishment of Egypt for their behaviour towards Judah/Israel, both in bringing about the death of Josiah and in its aftermath, it is noteworthy that he does not draw this out in the prophecy. Rather it is simply a poetically inspired statement of what happened to the Egyptians. As we know from earlier, in 609 BC the Egyptian army had moved up the Coastal Plain to the aid of an Assyria which was on its last legs against a Medo-Babylonian invasion, with a view to stemming the rising Babylonian power. It was in seeking to interfere in this that Josiah lost his life. Having defeated Josiah's army the Egyptians then moved on, and although not arriving in time to succour the Assyrians, took possession of all the lands from their own borders right up to Carchemish in the north, meanwhile taking Josiah's heir, Jehoahaz as a hostage to Egypt and replacing him with Jehoiakim. They were able to sustain this position for a time because Nebuchadrezzar's attention, as commander-in-chief of his father's armies was taken up elsewhere. But once those problems had been dealt with Nebuchadrezzar addressed the situation and totally humiliated the Egyptian army, first at Carchemish and then at Hamath, driving Egypt back to its own borders. Babylon then took over Egypt's fleeting ‘empire', including Judah.

Jeremiah 46:2

‘Of Egypt: Concerning the army of Pharaoh-neco king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.'

The oracle is stated to be in respect of the defeat by Nebuchadrezzar of the Egyptian army of Pharaoh-Neco, which had its headquarters at Carchemish near the Euphrates. This was the very army which had slain Josiah. This took place in 605 BC. In consequences the new Egyptian ‘empire' had lasted for only four years. It is noteworthy that in what follows there is no description of the battle. It is not history as such. The idea is rather in order to bring out that after their proud preparations, carried out in such expectancy, they were totally routed and humiliated. Man proposes, but God disposes.