Jer 43:10 | KingComments | STEP | In Tahpanhes in Egypt, the word of the LORD comes to Jeremiah ( ). The people think that by fleeing from Judah they have put the problems behind them. But that is self-deception. They will suffer in Egypt the fate they think they have escaped. Never can anyone flee so far as to be beyond the reach of God’s arm (cf. ). Jeremiah remains the prophet of the LORD, even in Egypt. He is instructed by the LORD to take large stones and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes in the sight of some Jews ( ). It will have caused a stir, that right in front of the center of Egyptian power, Jeremiah, the ancient prophet, carries out this command. He will have received the special protection of the LORD for it, for otherwise he would have been arrested immediately. It is a remarkable command with a symbolic meaning. It is declared by the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel ( ). The LORD will bring Nebuchadnezzar, whom He calls His servant, and he will set his throne on top of those stones and spread his canopy over them. Jeremiah has laid the foundation, as it were, for a new government that will overthrow the old one. Nebuchadnezzar will come and conquer Egypt ( ). Their flee from the Babylonians is therefore futile, for the LORD is sending Nebuchadnezzar’s armies there. Along with this, disasters will come on the people. Through various causes of death they will die. The LORD shall by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt ( ). It is not Nebuchadnezzar who is the destroyer, but the LORD Who uses him to bring His calamity upon them. As a result, the land of Egypt will be cleared of lice – “wrap himself with the land” can also be translated with “delouse the land”. With the ease with which a shepherd rids his cloak of lice, Nebuchadnezzar sweeps away the idols from Egypt. When Nebuchadnezzar has finished his work, he will depart from Egypt in peace. No one will stop him. All idols are nothing ( ). He shatters them and burns them with fire.

‏ Jeremiah 43:10

Prophecy of Jeremiah in Egypt

In Tahpanhes in Egypt, the word of the LORD comes to Jeremiah (Jer 43:8). The people think that by fleeing from Judah they have put the problems behind them. But that is self-deception. They will suffer in Egypt the fate they think they have escaped. Never can anyone flee so far as to be beyond the reach of God’s arm (cf. Jona 1:1-17).

Jeremiah remains the prophet of the LORD, even in Egypt. He is instructed by the LORD to take large stones and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes in the sight of some Jews (Jer 43:9). It will have caused a stir, that right in front of the center of Egyptian power, Jeremiah, the ancient prophet, carries out this command. He will have received the special protection of the LORD for it, for otherwise he would have been arrested immediately.

It is a remarkable command with a symbolic meaning. It is declared by the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel (Jer 43:10). The LORD will bring Nebuchadnezzar, whom He calls His servant, and he will set his throne on top of those stones and spread his canopy over them. Jeremiah has laid the foundation, as it were, for a new government that will overthrow the old one.

Nebuchadnezzar will come and conquer Egypt (Jer 43:11). Their flee from the Babylonians is therefore futile, for the LORD is sending Nebuchadnezzar’s armies there. Along with this, disasters will come on the people. Through various causes of death they will die. The LORD shall by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt (Jer 43:12). It is not Nebuchadnezzar who is the destroyer, but the LORD Who uses him to bring His calamity upon them.

As a result, the land of Egypt will be cleared of lice – “wrap himself with the land” can also be translated with “delouse the land”. With the ease with which a shepherd rids his cloak of lice, Nebuchadnezzar sweeps away the idols from Egypt. When Nebuchadnezzar has finished his work, he will depart from Egypt in peace. No one will stop him. All idols are nothing (Jer 43:13). He shatters them and burns them with fire.