This chapter contains the answer of the princes and people to the prophet’s message; a relation of their going into Egypt; and a prophecy of the destruction of that land.

And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people The princes and the people, the whole body of them, who had desired the prophet to seek the Lord for them, and whom he called together to relate his answer, and declare his will; see (Jer. 42:1, Jer.

Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah Perhaps the same with Jezaniah, or a brother of his, ; he is mentioned first, it may be, because he was the contriver of this scheme to go into Egypt, advised unto it, and was most for it it.

But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us First they charge the prophet with a lie, and deny his mission from the Lord; and now to lessen the prophet’s crime they charged him with, they lay the blame on Baruch, as if he, out of ill will to them, had instigated the prophet to deliver…

So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people The generality of them, at least, all agreed together, were of the same mind, and in the same sentiment and practice: and so obeyed not the voice of the Lord, to dwell in the land of Judah; it was the command of…

But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces Who were united in their resolution to go into Egypt, contrary to the declared will of God: took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah; both such who…

Even men, and women, and children, and the king’s daughters, &c.] This, according to the supplement of our version, explains who they were that were taken and had into Egypt, persons of every sex, age, and rank; though rather these words design and describe persons distinct from the former, that…

So they came into the land of Egypt They set out from the habitation of Chimham, where they were, ; and proceeded on their journey, till they entered the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord; to continue in Judea, and not to go into Egypt; and though the prophet of the Lord, who…

Then came the word of the Lord to Jeremiah, at Tahpanhes Where he was with the rest the captains carried thither with them; and as soon as he and they had got here, the word of the Lord came unto him, declaring the destruction of this place, and of the whole land.

Take great stones in thine hand In both his hands, as big as he could carry: and hide them in the clay in the brick kiln; there was much clay in Egypt, through the overflowing of the Nile, and particularly at this place Tahpanhes, which had its name of Pelusiae from hence; and here was a brick…

And say unto them The men of Judah, now in Egypt: thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; (See Gill on Jer. 42:15); behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; as all men are by creation, and as he was in a very eminent sense, being an instrument in his…

And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt Here is a various reading: the “Cetib”, or textual writing, is, “when it cometh, it shall smite”; which Kimchi rightly interprets of the camp or army of Nebuchadnezzar; and the “Keri”, or marginal reading, which we follow, is, “when he cometh, he…

And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt, &c.] Not only men should not be spared, but their gods also, and their temples should be burnt, as was usually done when cities were taken and destroyed: this is ascribed to God, to his wrath and vengeance; idolatry being a sin highly…

He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt Or, “of Heliopolis”, as the Septuagint; the “city of the sun”; and so “Bethshemesh” here signifies the “house of the sun”; either it designs the temple of the sun, or the city where it was worshipped; as Heliopolis was…