Jeremias 43

BLIVRE · Chapter 43/52

1E sucedeu que, quando Jeremias acabou de falar a todo o povo todas as palavras do SENHOR Deus deles, pelas quais o SENHOR Deus deles tinha o enviado a eles,

2Então Azarias filho de Hosaías, e Joanã filho de Careá, e todos os homens arrogantes disseram a Jeremias: Tu falas mentira! O SENHOR nosso Deus não te enviou para dizer: Não entreis em Egito para ali peregrinar.

3Mas é Baruque filho de Nerias que te incita contra nós, para nos entregar nas mãos dos caldeus, para nos matar ou nos fazer transportar cativos à Babilônia.

4Assim Joanã filho de Careá, e todos os comandantes dos exércitos, e todo o povo, não obedeceram à voz do SENHOR para ficarem na terra de Judá;

5Em vez disse, Joanã filho de Careá, e todos os comandantes dos exércitos, tomaram a todo o restante de Judá, que tinham voltado de todas as nações para onde haviam sido lançados, para morarem na terra de Judá:

6Homens, mulheres, crianças, as filhas do rei, e a toda alma que Nabuzaradã capitão da guarda tinha deixado com Gedalias filho de Aicã filho de Safã, e [também] ao profeta Jeremias, e a Baruque filho de Nerias;

7E vieram à terra do Egito, porque não obedeceram à voz do SENHOR; e chegaram até Tafnes.

8Então veio a palavra do SENHOR a Jeremias em Tafnes, dizendo:

9Toma em tua mão pedras grandes, e as esconde entre o barro no forno que está à porta da casa de Faraó em Tafnes, diante dos olhos de homens judeus,

10E dize-lhes: Assim diz o SENHOR dos exércitos, Deus de Israel: Eis que eu enviarei, e tomarei a Nabucodonosor rei da Babilônia, meu servo, e porei seu trono sobre estas pedras que escondi; e ele estenderá sua tenda real sobre elas.

11E ele virá, e ferirá a terra do Egito: os que [estão condenados] para a morte, à morte; os que para o cativeiro, ao cativeiro, e os que para a espada, à espada.

12E acenderei fogo às casas dos deuses do Egito; e ele as queimará, e os levará cativos; e ele se vestirá da terra do Egito, tal como o pastor se veste de sua capa; e ele sairá de lá em paz.

13E quebrará as estátuas de Bete-Semes, que fica na terra do Egito, e queimará a fogo as casas dos deuses do Egito.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

Despite Jeremiah's warning, the people, led by Johanan, force the prophet and Baruch to go with them to Egypt. There, Jeremiah prophesies that Nebuchadnezzar will also invade Egypt.

Explanation

The accusation that Baruch was turning Jeremiah against the people (v. 3) shows how messengers of bad news are often treated as though they were the cause of the problem, rather than simply the ones announcing it — a psychological pattern that repeats in many settings even today. The prophetic act of burying large stones at the entrance of Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes, announcing that Nebuchadnezzar would set his throne there, demonstrates that not even fleeing to a powerful foreign nation offered real escape from the reach of the judgment announced by God.

Fun facts

  • Tahpanhes (modern Tell Defenneh) was a real Egyptian border city, identified by archaeologists with a fortified brick complex matching the 'pavement' described in the text.
  • The Egyptian invasion by Nebuchadnezzar, prophesied here, is historically recorded as having occurred around 568-567 BC, according to surviving fragments of Babylonian chronicles.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Jeremias 43:1Marks the end of Jeremiah’s speech: he had just finished delivering the whole answer from God against going to Egypt.
  2. Jeremias 43:2The reaction is hostile: Azariah and Johanan, along with the proudest leaders of the group, accuse Jeremiah directly of lying, denying that the prohibition really comes from God.
  3. Jeremias 43:3They go further and blame Baruch, Jeremiah’s secretary, for manipulating the prophet in order to hand the group over to the Babylonians -- they suspect a personal conspiracy and refuse to accept the message as divine.
  4. Jeremias 43:4The practical result: none of the commanders nor the people obey the instruction to stay in the land of Judah, despite the solemn oath made in the previous chapter.
  5. Jeremias 43:5Johanan and the commanders forcibly take away the entire remnant of the people who had returned from exile to settle in Judah, undoing the very return that had happened after Gedaliah’s death.
  6. Jeremias 43:6The list of those taken includes men, women, children, the king’s daughters, and even Jeremiah and Baruch -- the very prophet who warned them is dragged against his will to Egypt.
  7. Jeremias 43:7They arrive at the Egyptian city of Tahpanhes, directly disobeying God’s command -- the chapter ends with the wrong decision already carried out.
  8. Jeremias 43:8Hiding large stones under the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes is another sign-act: Jeremiah announces that Nebuchadnezzar will one day set his own throne right there. Egypt, where they had fled seeking safety, would not be a permanent refuge.
  9. Jeremias 43:9God tells Jeremiah to perform a public prophetic gesture: hide large stones in the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes, in front of Jewish witnesses.
  10. Jeremias 43:10The explanation of the sign: Nebuchadnezzar will come to Egypt and set up his own throne right over these hidden stones -- Babylonian power reaching even the refuge that seemed safest.
  11. Jeremias 43:11Details the devastation Nebuchadnezzar will bring to Egypt: death, captivity, and war, each one destined for the end already determined.
  12. Jeremias 43:12Even predicts that Nebuchadnezzar will burn and plunder the temples of the Egyptian gods, and leave Egypt as easily as a shepherd wraps himself in his own cloak -- an easy conquest, without much resistance.
  13. Jeremias 43:13Specifically mentions the destruction of the sacred pillars of Beth-shemesh (an Egyptian city devoted to sun worship, not the city of the same name in Judah), reinforcing that not even Egypt’s religious symbols would escape.

Chapters

Our apps

Our apps →

Bible in Stories

The Bible told as a story, with audio and videos.

📱 Get the app

World in Stories

True stories of humanity that sound made up.

Feito! Pequenas Vitórias

A light daily routine for people who lose track of the day.