Jer. 43 Johanan and the commanders discredit Jeremiah’s prophecy, Jer. 43:1–3, and, with the people, carry him and Baruch into Egypt, Jer. 43:4–7. He prophesieth, by a type, the conquest of Egypt by the Babylonians, Jer. 43:8–13.

The Hebrew word which we translate words signifieth also things. The prophet is very exact in letting us know that he had from the Lord what he delivered to them, he therefore twice repeats it, the words of the lord their God, and for which the Lord had sent him to them: not that the prophets…

Of Johanan we have before heard, but not of Azariah, unless under the name of Jezaniah, Jer. 42:1, but that is uncertain. These men are called proud men, either because they were the great men, or because their conceit of themselves led them into this fatal error.

Baruch was but a clerk or secretary to Jeremiah, so not very probable to overrule the prophet to a falsifying of his trust, and a betraying of his countrymen into the hands of their enemies; but so fond are wicked men of their lusts, that they will say any thing in justification of them, rather…

That is, they resolved not to obey the message God had sent them by Jeremiah.

This resolution they presently put in practice. Though it is certain that Jeremiah and Baruch were not willing to go along with them, and probably that many of the people were not willing, yet these rebellious captains forced them all along with them, so as many of them were now a kind of prisoners…

Of the king’s daughters here mentioned, see Jer. 41:10.

Egypt at this time, though it was humbled by the king of Babylon, by an inroad he had made into it, of which we read, 2 Kings 24:7, yet it was a distinct kingdom, and being near to Canaan, the Jews often fled thither for sanctuary, and borrowed assistance against their enemies from them.

God commandeth the prophet to take these stones, and to place them in the clay, & c., for a sign of what we shall meet with expounded in the next verse: it is plain from hence that the king of Egypt, called Pharaoh, either resided, or at least had a royal palace, in Tahpanhes; Jeremiah is directed…

Now God expounds his meaning in his former command: he ordered Jeremiah to take stones, and hide them in a place near the king of Egypt’s palace; now he tells them that this was for a sign that Nebuchadnezzar should set his throne and spread his pavilion in that place.

He prophesieth the certain ruin of the Egyptians by the king of Babylon, some of whom the king of Babylon should slay, others of them he should lead away into captivity as prisoners of war. See the like phrases Jer. 15:2.

God by his prophet declares a particular hatred to the idols of Egypt, that he would burn up their temples, i.e. by the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. And carry them away captives; he shall carry away both the idols and the inhabitants of Egypt captives.

Beth-shemesh signifies the house of the sun, and it is also the name of a city in Egypt; so most take it here, as the name of a city which had its name from a famous temple builded in it to the honour of the sun. This idol is called On, Gen. 41:45.