Jeremiah 43:8

_THEN CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO JEREMIAH IN TAHPANHES, SAYING,_ No JFB commentary on this verse....

This passage shews that the Prophet was by force drawn away with others, so that he became an exile in Egypt contrary to his own wishes; for he did not go there of his own accord, inasmuch as we have seen how strictly he forbade them all to go down to Egypt. He was, however, compelled to go there, as though he had been bound with chains. He did not then go there designedly, nor did he through despair follow those miserable men; for he would have preferred to die a hundred times through famine and want in the land of Judah rather than to have sought in this way the lengthening of his life. It then appears that he was driven there as it were by enemies. But as nothing happens except through God’s purpose, so from this prophecy it appears that God ordered the going down of his servant, and that he was not so subjected to the will of the wicked, but that he was always guided by the hidden in...

8-13 God can find his people wherever they are. The Spirit of prophecy was not confined to the land of Israel. It is foretold that Nebuchadnezzar should destroy and carry into captivity many of the Egyptians. Thus God makes one wicked man, or wicked nation, a scourge and plague to another. He will punish those who deceive his professing people, or tempt them to rebellion....

On arriving at the frontiers of Egypt, the captains would be compelled to halt in order to obtain the king’s permission to enter his country. Jeremiah therefore takes the opportunity to predict, first, the downfall of Egypt; and secondly, that of the false gods....

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....

THEN CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD TO JEREMIAH, AT TAHPANHES,.... Where he was with the rest the captains carried thither with them; and as soon as he and they had got here, the word of the Lord came unto him, declaring the destruction of this place, and of the whole land. Here Jerom says the prophet was stoned to death; SAYING; as follows:...

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

THE FUTURE CONQUEST OF EGYPT BY NEBUCHADREZZAR. According to an imperfect inscription (given in Rogers's _Cuneiform Parallels to the OT,_ p. 367), he actually invaded Egypt in 567 B.C. Jeremiah symbolically proclaims this by placing stones on the spot where the Babylonian king shall erect his throne and glittering canopy (Jeremiah 43:10 _mg.)._ He will make the land his, as easily as a shepherd puts on his garment (Jeremiah 43:12), and will destroy heathen temples, and the obelisks of Heliopolis (Jeremiah 43:13 _mg.;_ 6 m. NE. of Cairo) For the force of such symbolism see on Jeremiah 13:1 ff....

THE THIRTY-EIGHTH PROPHECY OF JEREMIAH (see book comments for Jeremiah). Then. And. The Structure shows that. new member commences here....

_in Tahpanhes_ The exiles would be compelled to halt at this frontier-fortress (now _Tell Defneh_) in order to secure permission to sojourn in the country, and obtain if possible such recognition from the king as would help to supply them with means of subsistence....