Jeremiah 43:5

But 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; REMNANT ... RETURNED FROM ALL NATIONS - (Jeremiah 40:11)....

The Prophet now gives us a narrative of what he had briefly touched upon. He then says that John and the rest of the leaders took the remnant of the people, who were there alive, and those who had returned from various countries; for many had become fugitives among the Moabites and the Idumeans, when they saw the city surrounded by the forces of King Nebuchadnezzar. Then they fled here and there, as it usually happens, and waited for the issue of the war. But after Nebuchadnezzar had departed, and a permission had been given to Gedaliah to collect what remained of the people and to place them in cities and towns, many returned into the land, now desolate; for they had dwelt with aliens, and had been miserably treated. As then they could not settle out of their own land nor find any quiet habitation, they returned, as it is usual with men reduced to want, who have no settled dwelling. The...

1-7 Only by pride comes contention, both with God and man. They preferred their own wisdom to the revealed will of God. Men deny the Scriptures to be the word of God, because they are resolved not to conform themselves to Scripture rules. When men will persist in sin, they charge the best actions to bad motives. These Jews deserted their own land, and threw themselves out of God's protection. It is the folly of men, that they often ruin themselves by wrong endeavours to mend their situation....

ALL THE REMNANT OF JUDAH THAT WERE RETURNED - In this way, the utter depopulation of the land was completed. Thus was fulfilled the predictions of Jeremiah 24:8, and the sole hope of the nation now centered in the exiles at Babylon Jeremiah 24:5....

EXPOSITION The flight to Egypt; Jeremiah's prediction of Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Egypt. JEREMIAH 43:2 ALL THE PROUD MEN. It would seem as if the "proud men" were distinguished from others. Jeremiah had called the whole people together (Jeremiah 42:8); but a few domineering men assumed to represent the rest. JEREMIAH 43:3 BARUCH THE SON OF NERIAH SETTETH THEE ON. A singular supposition—Jeremiah leaving the initiative to his secretary! It may be conjectured that Baruch had somehow made himself specially unpopular; he may have been a more practical man (comp....

BUT JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH, AND ALL THE CAPTAINS OF THE FORCES,.... Who were united in their resolution to go into Egypt, contrary to the declared will of God: TOOK ALL THE REMNANT OF JUDAH, THAT WERE RETURNED FROM ALL NATIONS WHITHER THEY HAD BEEN DRIVEN, TO DWELL IN THE LAND OF JUDAH; both such who were left in the land, when the rest were carried captive into Babylon, more particularly mentioned in Jeremiah 43:6; and those, who upon the invasion of the land, and siege of Jerusalem, had fled to other countries, but now were returned from thence, in order to settle in it; having heard that a governor from among the Jews was appointed over it; as from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and other countries; see Jeremiah 40:11; these, some of their own accord, others through persuasion, and others

CHAPTER 43 _ 1. The rebellion against Jeremiah (Jeremiah 43:1) _ 2. Jeremiah's prediction about the conquest of Egypt (Jeremiah 43:8) Jeremiah 43:1. No sooner had Jeremiah finished communicating the divine answer, but the captains and the proud men denounced him. They charged him that he spoke falsely, that all he had said was at the instigation of Baruch, that both were traitors. Then the leaders did not obey the voice of the Lord to dwell in the land; they took the remnant of Judah (Jeremiah 43:5 is explained by J

JEREMIAH 42:1 TO JEREMIAH 43:7. THE MIGRATION INTO EGYPT. Jeremiah is asked by the leaders (Jeremiah 42:1 _mg.,_ with LXX) and the people to seek Yahweh's guidance, which they solemnly (Jeremiah 42:5 _mg._) promise to follow (Jeremiah 42:1). After ten days, the Divine revelation comes to the prophet and is communicated to the people, to the effect that they are to remain in Judah, where Yahweh promises to protect them from the Babylonians; their hope of prosperity in Egypt will be found delusive; Yahweh will treat them in Egypt as He has

WHITHER, &C. Compare Jeremiah 40:12....

4. _The rashness of the leaders_ (Jeremiah 43:1-7) TRANSLATION (1) And it came to pass after Jeremiah finished speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God which the LORD their God sent him, even all these words, (2) that Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men began saying unto Jeremiah, You are speaking falsehood! The LORD our God did not send you to say, Do not go to Egypt to sojourn there. (3) But Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us in order to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans that they might slay us or take us captive to Babylon. (4) And Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the officers of the forces, and all the people would not obey the voice of the LORD to dwell in the land of Judah. (5) And Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the officers of the forces, took all the remnant of Juda