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Jeremías 43

VBL · Chapter 43/52

1Después de que Jeremías terminó de decirles a todos todo lo que el Señor, su Dios, le había enviado a decir,

2Azarías hijo de Oseas, Johanán hijo de Carea, y todos los hombres orgullosos y rebeldes le dijo a Jeremías: “¡Mientes! El Señor, nuestro Dios, no te ha enviado para decirnos: ‘No deben irse a vivir a Egipto’.

3¡No, es Baruc hijo de Nerías quien te ha puesto en contra de nosotros para entregarnos a los babilonios para que nos maten o nos exilien a Babilonia!”

4Así que Johanán hijo de Carea y todos los comandantes del ejército se negaron a obedecer la orden del Señor de permanecer en la tierra de Judá.

5En lugar de eso, Johanán hijo de Carea y todos los comandantes del ejército se llevaron a todos los que quedaban del pueblo de Judá, los que habían regresado al país desde todas las naciones donde habían sido dispersados.

6Entre ellos había hombres, mujeres y niños, las hijas del rey y todos los que Nabuzaradán, el comandante de la guardia, había permitido que se quedaran con Gedalías, así como Jeremías y Baruc.

7Fueron a Egipto porque se negaron a obedecer el mandato del Señor. Fueron hasta Tafnes.

8Un mensaje del Señor llegó a Jeremías en Tafnes:

9Mientras el pueblo de Judá observa, consigue algunas piedras grandes y ponlas en el cemento del pavimento de ladrillos en el camino de entrada al palacio del faraón en Tafnes.

10Diles que esto es lo que dice el Señor Todopoderoso, el Dios de Israel: Voy a enviar a buscar a mi siervo Nabucodonosor, rey de Babilonia, y lo traeré aquí. Pondré su trono sobre estas piedras que he colocado en el pavimento, y él extenderá su tienda real sobre ellas.

11Vendrá y atacará a Egipto, trayendo la muerte a los que están destinados a morir, la prisión a los que están destinados a ser encarcelados y la espada a los que están destinados a ser muertos por la espada.

12Prenderé fuego a los templos de los dioses de Egipto. Nabucodonosor los quemará y saqueará sus ídolos. Limpiará la tierra de Egipto como un pastor limpia su manto de pulgas, y saldrá ileso.

13Derribará los pilares sagrados del templo del sol en Egipto, y quemará los templos de los dioses de Egipto.

📖 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. Jeremías 43:1Marks the end of Jeremiah’s speech: he had just finished delivering the whole answer from God against going to Egypt.
  2. Jeremías 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. Jeremías 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. Jeremías 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. Jeremías 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. Jeremías 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. Jeremías 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. Jeremías 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. Jeremías 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. Jeremías 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. Jeremías 43:11Details the devastation Nebuchadnezzar will bring to Egypt: death, captivity, and war, each one destined for the end already determined.
  12. Jeremías 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. Jeremías 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.

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