Jeremiah’s Counsel Rejected

43 When Jeremiah had finished speaking to all the people all the words of the Lord their God—all these words the Lord their God had sent him to give them— then Azariah[a] son of Hoshaiah,(A) Johanan son of Kareah, and all the other arrogant men responded to Jeremiah, “You are speaking a lie! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to stay there for a while!’ Rather, Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Chaldeans to put us to death or to deport us to Babylon!”

So Johanan son of Kareah, all the commanders of the armies, and all the people failed to obey the Lord’s command to stay in the land of Judah. Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies led away the whole remnant of Judah,(B) those who had returned to stay in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been banished. They led away the men, women, children, king’s daughters, and everyone whom Nebuzaradan, captain of the guards, had allowed to remain with Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan.(C) They also led the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch son of Neriah away. They went to the land of Egypt because they did not obey the Lord. They went as far as Tahpanhes.(D)

God’s Sign to the People in Egypt

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah at Tahpanhes: “Pick up some large stones and set them in the mortar of the brick pavement that is at the opening of Pharaoh’s palace at Tahpanhes. Do this in the sight of the Judean men 10 and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will place his throne on these stones that I have embedded, and he will pitch his pavilion over them. 11 He will come and strike down the land of Egypt(E)—those destined for death, to death; those destined for captivity, to captivity; and those destined for the sword, to the sword.(F) 12 I[b] will kindle a fire in the temples of Egypt’s gods,(G) and he will burn them and take them captive. He will clean the land of Egypt as a shepherd picks lice off[c] his clothes,(H) and he will leave there unscathed. 13 He will smash the sacred pillars of the sun temple[d][e] in the land of Egypt and burn the temples of the Egyptian gods.’”

Footnotes

  1. 43:2 = Jezaniah
  2. 43:12 LXX, Syr, Vg read He
  3. 43:12 Or will wrap himself in the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself in
  4. 43:13 Or Beth-shemesh
  5. 43:13 = of Heliopolis

God’s Judgment against His People in Egypt

44 This is the word that came to Jeremiah for all the Jews living in the land of Egypt—at Migdol,(A) Tahpanhes,(B) Memphis,(C) and in the land of Pathros:(D) “This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: You have seen all the disaster I brought against Jerusalem and all Judah’s cities. Look, they are a ruin today without an inhabitant in them(E) because of the evil they committed to anger me,(F) by going and burning incense to serve other gods that they, you, and your ancestors did not know.(G) So I sent you all my servants the prophets time and time again,[a](H) saying, ‘Don’t commit this detestable action that I hate.’ But they did not listen or pay attention; they did not turn from their evil or stop burning incense to other gods. So my fierce wrath poured out and burned in Judah’s cities and Jerusalem’s streets(I) so that they became the desolate ruin they are today.

“So now, this is what the Lord, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Why are you doing such terrible harm to yourselves? You are cutting off man and woman, infant and nursing baby(J) from Judah, leaving yourselves without a remnant.(K) You are angering me by the work of your hands. You are burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to stay for a while. As a result, you will be cut off and become an example for cursing and insult among all the nations of earth.(L) Have you forgotten the evils of your ancestors, the evils of Judah’s kings, the evils of their wives, your own evils, and the evils of your wives that were committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They have not become humble to this day, and they have not feared or followed my instruction or my statutes that I set before you and your ancestors.

11 “Therefore, this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am about to set my face against you to bring disaster,(M) to cut off all Judah.(N) 12 And I will take away the remnant of Judah,(O) those who have set their face to go to the land of Egypt to stay there. All of them will meet their end in the land of Egypt. They will fall by the sword; they will meet their end by famine. From the least to the greatest,(P) they will die by the sword and by famine. Then they will become an example for cursing, scorn,(Q) execration, and disgrace.(R) 13 I will punish those living in the land of Egypt just as I punished Jerusalem by sword, famine, and plague. 14 Then the remnant of Judah—those going to live for a while there in the land of Egypt—will have no fugitive or survivor to return to the land of Judah where they are longing[b] to return to stay,(S) for they will not return except for a few fugitives.”

The People’s Stubborn Response

15 However, all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, all the women standing by—a great assembly—and all the people who were living in the land of Egypt at Pathros answered Jeremiah, 16 “As for the word you spoke to us in the name of the Lord, we are not going to listen to you! 17 Instead, we will do everything we promised:[c] we will burn incense to the queen of heaven[d] and offer drink offerings to her just as we, our ancestors, our kings, and our officials did in Judah’s cities(T) and in Jerusalem’s streets. Then we had enough food, we were well off, and we saw no disaster, 18 but from the time we ceased to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to offer her drink offerings, we have lacked everything, and through sword and famine we have met our end.”(U)

19 And the women said,[e] “When we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it apart from our husbands’ knowledge(V) that we made sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”

20 But Jeremiah responded to all the people—the men, women, and all the people who were answering him: 21 “As for the incense you burned in Judah’s cities(W) and in Jerusalem’s streets—you, your ancestors, your kings, your officials, and the people of the land—did the Lord not remember them? He brought this to mind. 22 The Lord can no longer bear your evil deeds and the detestable acts you have committed,(X) so your land has become a waste, a desolation, and an example for cursing, without inhabitant, as you see today. 23 Because you burned incense and sinned against the Lord and didn’t obey the Lord(Y) and didn’t follow his instruction, his statutes, and his testimonies, this disaster has come to you, as you see today.”

24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt.(Z) 25 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for you and your wives, you women have spoken with your mouths, and you men fulfilled it by your deeds, saying, “We will keep our vows that we have made to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings for her.” Go ahead, confirm your vows! Keep your vows!’

26 “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, all you Judeans who live in the land of Egypt: ‘I have sworn by my great name,(AA) says the Lord, that my name will never again be invoked by anyone of Judah in all the land of Egypt,(AB) saying, “As the Lord God lives.” 27 I am watching over them for disaster and not for good,(AC) and everyone from Judah who is in the land of Egypt will meet his end by sword or famine until they are finished off. 28 Those who escape the sword will return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah only few in number,(AD) and the whole remnant of Judah, the ones going to the land of Egypt to stay there for a while, will know whose word stands, mine or theirs! 29 This will be a sign to you’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘that I will punish you in this place, so you may know that my words of disaster concerning you will certainly come to pass.(AE) 30 This is what the Lord says: I am about to hand over Pharaoh Hophra,(AF) Egypt’s king, to his enemies, to those who intend to take his life, just as I handed over Judah’s King Zedekiah(AG) to Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar, who was his enemy, the one who intended to take his life.’”

Footnotes

  1. 44:4 Lit prophets, rising up early and sending
  2. 44:14 Lit lifting up their soul
  3. 44:17 Lit do every word that came from our mouth
  4. 44:17 = Ashtoreth, or Astarte
  5. 44:19 LXX, Syr; MT omits And the women said

Prophecies against the Nations

46 This is the word of the Lord that came to the prophet Jeremiah about the nations:(A)

Prophecies against Egypt

About Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco, Egypt’s king,(B) which was defeated at Carchemish(C) on the Euphrates River by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in the fourth year of Judah’s King Jehoiakim son of Josiah:(D)

Deploy small shields(E) and large;
approach for battle!
Harness the horses;
mount the steeds;[a]
take your positions with helmets on!
Polish the lances;
put on armor!(F)
Why have I seen this?
They are terrified,
they are retreating,
their warriors are crushed,
they flee headlong,
they never look back,
terror is on every side!(G)
This is the Lord’s declaration.
The swift cannot flee,
and the warrior cannot escape!(H)
In the north by the bank of the Euphrates River,
they stumble and fall.(I)
Who is this, rising like the Nile,(J)
with waters that churn like rivers?
Egypt rises like the Nile,(K)
and its waters churn like rivers.
He boasts, “I will go up, I will cover the earth;
I will destroy cities with their residents.”
Rise up, you cavalry!
Race furiously, you chariots!
Let the warriors march out—
Cush and Put,(L)
who are able to handle shields,
and the men of Lud,(M)
who are able to handle and string the bow.(N)
10 That day belongs to the Lord, the God of Armies,
a day of vengeance to avenge himself
against his adversaries.
The sword will devour and be satisfied;
it will drink its fill of their blood,
because it will be a sacrifice(O) to the Lord, the God of Armies,
in the northern land by the Euphrates River.(P)
11 Go up to Gilead and get balm,(Q)
Virgin Daughter Egypt!
You have multiplied remedies in vain;
there is no healing for you.
12 The nations have heard of your dishonor,(R)
and your cries fill the earth,
because warrior stumbles against warrior
and together both of them have fallen.

13 This is the word the Lord spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to defeat the land of Egypt:(S)

14 Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol!(T)
Proclaim it in Memphis and in Tahpanhes!
Say, “Take positions! Prepare yourself,
for the sword devours all around you.”(U)
15 Why have your strong ones been swept away?
Each has not stood,
for the Lord has thrust him down.
16 He continues to stumble.(V)
Indeed, each falls over the other.
They say, “Get up! Let’s return to our people
and to our native land,
away from the oppressor’s sword.”(W)
17 There they will cry out,
“Pharaoh king of Egypt was all noise;
he let the opportune moment pass.”
18 As I live—
this is the King’s declaration;
the Lord of Armies is his name(X)
the king of Babylon[b] will come like Tabor among the mountains
and like Carmel by the sea.
19 Get your bags ready for exile,
inhabitant of Daughter Egypt!(Y)
For Memphis will become a desolation,
uninhabited ruins.
20 Egypt is a beautiful young cow,(Z)
but a horsefly from the north is coming against her.[c](AA)
21 Even her mercenaries among her
are like stall-fed calves.
They too will turn back;
together they will flee;
they will not take their stand,
for the day of their calamity is coming on them,
the time of their punishment.(AB)
22 Egypt will hiss like a slithering snake,[d]
for the enemy will come with an army;
with axes they will come against her
like those who cut trees.(AC)
23 They will cut down her forest—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
though it is dense,
for they are more numerous than locusts;
they cannot be counted.(AD)
24 Daughter Egypt will be put to shame,
handed over to a northern people.(AE)

25 The Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says, “I am about to punish Amon, god of Thebes,(AF) along with Pharaoh, Egypt, her gods, and her kings—Pharaoh and those trusting in him. 26 I will hand them over to those who intend to take their lives(AG)—to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his officers. But after this,(AH) Egypt[e] will be inhabited again as in ancient times.”

This is the Lord’s declaration.

Reassurance for Israel

27 But you, my servant Jacob, do not be afraid,(AI)
and do not be discouraged, Israel,
for without fail I will save you from far away,
and your descendants from the land of their captivity!
Jacob will return and have calm and quiet
with no one to frighten him.
28 And you, my servant Jacob, do not be afraid—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
for I will be with you.(AJ)
I will bring destruction on all the nations
where I have banished you,
but I will not bring destruction on you.
I will discipline you with justice,
and I will by no means leave you unpunished.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. 46:4 Or mount up, riders
  2. 46:18 Lit He
  3. 46:20 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read is coming, coming
  4. 46:22 Lit Her sound is like a snake as it goes
  5. 46:26 Lit it

Greeting

Simeon[a] Peter,(A) a servant and an apostle(B) of Jesus Christ:

To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness(C) of our God and Savior(D) Jesus Christ.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God(E) and of Jesus our Lord.

Growth in the Faith

His[b] divine power(F) has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge(G) of him who called(H) us by[c] his own glory and goodness. By these he has given us very great and precious promises,(I) so that through them you may share in the divine nature,(J) escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control,(K) self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection,(L) and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless(M) or unfruitful(N) in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election,(O) because if you do these things you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom(P) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

12 Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth(Q) you now have. 13 I think it is right, as long as I am in this bodily tent,(R) to wake you up with a reminder, 14 since I know that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has indeed made clear to me.(S) 15 And I will also make every effort so that you are able to recall these things at any time after my departure.[d]

The Trustworthy Prophetic Word

16 For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;(T) instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.(U) 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying “This is my beloved Son,[e] with whom I am well-pleased!” (V) 18 We ourselves heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain.(W) 19 We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place,(X) until the day dawns(Y) and the morning star(Z) rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man;(AA) instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.(AB)

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Other mss read Simon
  2. 1:3 Lit As his
  3. 1:3 Or to
  4. 1:15 Or death
  5. 1:17 Or my Son, my beloved

Bible Gateway Recommends

CSB Spurgeon Study Bible, Cloth Over Board
CSB Spurgeon Study Bible, Cloth Over Board
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $28.99
Save: $21.00 (42%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
CSB Study Bible, Mahogany LeatherTouch, Thumb-Indexed
CSB Study Bible, Mahogany LeatherTouch, Thumb-Indexed
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $58.99
Save: $21.00 (26%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
CSB Outreach Bible for Kids
CSB Outreach Bible for Kids
Retail: $4.99
Our Price: $3.99
Save: $1.00 (20%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB Apologetics Study Bible, Mahogany LeatherTouch, Thumb-Indexed
CSB Apologetics Study Bible, Mahogany LeatherTouch, Thumb-Indexed
Retail: $69.99
Our Price: $44.99
Save: $25.00 (36%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB Tony Evans Study Bible, Black Bonded Leather
CSB Tony Evans Study Bible, Black Bonded Leather
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $24.49
Save: $55.50 (69%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars