Jeremiah 43

When Jeremiah had finished speaking to all the people all the words of the LORD their God, with which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words,

then Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, “You speak falsely. The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You shall not go into Egypt to live there;’

but Baruch the son of Neriah has turned you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death or carry us away captive to Babylon.”

So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey the LORD’s voice, to dwell in the land of Judah.

But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah—

the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and every person who Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.

They came into the land of Egypt, for they didn’t obey the LORD’s voice; and they came to Tahpanhes.

Then the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,

“Take great stones in your hand and hide them in mortar in the brick work which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah.

Tell them, the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne on these stones that I have hidden; and he will spread his royal pavilion over them.

He will come, and will strike the land of Egypt; such as are for death will be put to death, and such as are for captivity to captivity, and such as are for the sword to the sword.

I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt. He will burn them, and carry them away captive. He will array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his garment; and he will go out from there in peace.

He will also break the pillars of Beth Shemesh that is in the land of Egypt; and he will burn the houses of the gods of Egypt with fire.’”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter records the disobedience of the Judean remnant who, despite Jeremiah’s clear word from the LORD, flee to Egypt and take the prophet with them; it culminates in a divine oracle of judgment pronounced against Egypt, showing that no refuge outside God’s will offers true safety, and that even in exile, the sovereignty of God extends over all nations.

Flow.

Jeremiah delivers the LORD’s final warning against fleeing to Egypt, but the leaders accuse him of falsehood and conspiracy.
The people, led by Johanan, reject God’s word and descend into Egypt, taking Jeremiah and Baruch with them.
The LORD speaks again to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, commanding a symbolic act to confirm His coming judgment.
A prophetic message declares Nebuchadnezzar’s coming invasion of Egypt, portraying divine control over world powers and the futility of trusting in foreign alliances.

Connections. Following chapter 42, in which the people earnestly seek direction from the LORD only to reject His clear answer when it requires obedience, chapter 43 shows the immediate consequences of their unbelief—a defiant migration to Egypt that violates God’s covenant command. This act of rebellion fulfills the warning in WCF 3.7 that apostasy brings temporal and spiritual ruin. The narrative momentum continues into chapter 44, where God’s judgment on the remnant in Egypt is proclaimed, confirming that idolatry and disobedience, even in supposed refuge, lead only to ruin. The arc from 42 to 44 underscores the gravity of hearing the Word and refusing it.

What it teaches. The chapter demonstrates that God’s revealed will is decisive: to disobey it is not merely a mistake but rebellion, entailing covenant curses (WCF 19.5). The leaders’ accusation against Jeremiah reflects a hardness of heart common to those who prefer human strategies over divine promises (HC LD 10). God’s oracle through stones hidden at Pharaoh’s threshold shows that He sovereignly directs even pagan kings like Nebuchadnezzar as His servants (WCF 5.7), and that no nation—whether Egypt or Judah—is beyond His judgment or control. The imagery of fire upon Egypt’s gods (cf. HC LD 1) confirms their helplessness and the LORD’s unmatched authority over all powers. The promised overthrow of Beth Shemesh signifies the end of false worship, echoing the prophetic assurance that God will not share His glory (Canons of Dort 1.16).

Apply. The ground where they laid the stones remains uncovered: where you have buried your trust in human security, God speaks still.

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