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Home , Jeremiah 43, Tahpanhes

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8/25/02 b) Their words are recorded for us, “You speak falsely! The LORD our God 43-45 has not sent you to say, `Do not go to to dwell there.” Vs. 2d-f The Jeremiah having waited ten days * The in affect were calling him a declared to the leaders and the people their false prophet, having all the hypocrisy of seeking the will of God, while all evidence of his genuine along having their minds made up to disobey and prophecies! go to Egypt, which would only result in judgment. 3) They falsely accused Baruch. Vs. 3 a) But Baruch the son of Neriah has set Now he deals with the people in Egypt and the you against us. Vs. 3a leaders plainly express their rebellion to Jeremiah b) The reason, “To deliver us into the without any attempt to disguise it. hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death or carry us away 43:1-7 The people reject the words of captive to .” Vs. 3c-d Yahweh through Jeremiah. c) Jeremiah had come to understand what Yahweh had told him years ago, “"If 43:1-3 The prophet Jeremiah is called a false you have run with the footmen, and prophet. they have wearied you, Then how can 1) The occasion was when Jeremiah had you contend with horses? And if in finished speaking God’s answer to the the land of peace, In which you people regarding His will and direction. trusted, they wearied you, Then how Vs. 1 will you do in the floodplain of the a) The account is found in the previous Jordan? Jer. 12:5 chapter. b) Notice that Jeremiah spoke “all the 43:4-7 The people decided to go to Egypt. words” given to him by Yahweh. 1) The captains and the people would not 2) The people spoke to Jeremiah. Vs. 2 obey Yahweh to remain in . Vs. 4 a) Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan 2) Johanan and all the captains of the forces the son of Kareah, and all the proud took all the of Judah. Vs. 5-6 men spoke to Jeremiah. Vs. 2a-c 3 4

a) They comprised all who had returned b) Taphanhes is Daphne a royal city in to dwell in the land of Judah, from all the northeast of the Egyptian Delta, nations where they had been driven. just inside Egypt proper. Vs. 5 c) We have no idea how long a time b) They included men, women, children, between their arrival and the message the king's daughters, and every person of God. whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the 2) Jeremiah was to act out this sign message guard had left with the son as he had before many times and was of , the son of . Vs. told by God to take large stones in his 6a-f hand, and hide them in the sight of the c) The prophet Jeremiah and Baruch the men of Judah, in the clay in the brick were included. Vs. 6g courtyard which is at the entrance to 3) The people went to Egypt. Vs. 7 's house in . Vs. 9 a) The reason is repeated, “For they did a) Sir Flinders Petrie excavated Tell not obey the voice of the LORD.” Vs. Defeneh, and found a large paved area 7a-b which he believed to be the one b) The place of their dwelling is given, referred to here, situated in front of “And they went as far as Tahpanhes.”, what he identified as Pharaoh’s house. the modern day city of el Defenneh. * The Ephantine Papyri mention the Vs. 7c king’s hour” in Tahpanhes”. b) The capital of Egypt was not 43:8-13 The prophet Jeremiah pronounces Taphpanhes. judgment over the people in Egypt. c) This was just one of many palaces Pharaoh would have in border cities. 43:8-9 The words of God to Jeremiah. 1) The word of the LORD came to :10-12 The words of Jeremiah to the people. in Tahpanhes. Vs. 8 1) Jeremiah was told to speak to the men of a) The common phrase that had come to Judah as His prophet who reveals the Jeremiah for forty years in future. Vs. 10 was not coming to him in Egypt. a) Jeremiah was to preface the message with, “Thus says the LORD of hosts”, 5 6

to identify that it was the Captain of 1)) Yahweh would kindle a fire in the the armies of heaven who was houses of the gods of Egypt. Vs. speaking to them, the God of . 12a Vs. 10a-c 2)) And he, Nebuchadnezzar, shall b) Yahweh through Jeremiah declares burn them and carry them away that Nebuchadnezzar would set his captive. Vs. 12b throne on those very hidden stones. 3)) Nebuchadnezar would enrich Vs. 10c-g himself with the land of Egypt, as 1)) God Himself takes responsibility a shepherd puts on his garment and for this, “Behold, I will send and return in peace. Vs. 12c-e bring Nebuchadnezzar the king of c) The judgment would be complete. Vs. Babylon. Vs. 10c-d 13 2)) God calls Nebuchadnezzar, “My 1)) "He would also break the sacred servant” Vs. 10e; 25:9; 27. 6 pillars of Beth Shemesh that are in 3)) He would set his throne above the land of Egypt.” Vs. 13a these stones that I have hidden. a) The pillars are obelisks, which And he will spread his royal are nothing but symbols of the pavilion over them. Vs. 10f-g worship of the male sex organ, like 2) Jeremiah was told to reveal the coming the one in Washington, our capital. judgment. Vs. 11-12 b) Beth Shemes means the “house a) The coming of Nebuchadnezzar was of the sun”, and distinct from the certain to strike the land of Egypt in a one in Israel, it was the temple of three-fold judgment. Vs. 11a the sun “Ra” at On or Heliopolis, 1)) Death to those appointed for located in what is now the death. northeast sector of Cairo. 2)) Captivity to those appointed for 2)) And the houses of the gods of the captivity. Egyptians he shall burn with fire. 3)) The sword for those appointed for Vs. 13b the sword. * Fragments of a text in the British b) The judgment would be also on the Museum tells us that gods of Egypt. Vs. 12 Nebuchadnezzar conducted 7 8

extensive raids into Egypt but not a) He reminded them of the calamity a permanent conquest in the thirty- Yahweh brought about Jerusalem. seventh year of his reign, b) he reminded them how it was desolate approximately 568 B. C. and no one dwelt in the city. 3) Yahweh gave the reasons for their past 44:1-14 The prophet Jeremiah reveals the judgment. Vs. 3 people’s ongoing rebellion against Yahweh. a) Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke 44:1-6 The prophet Jeremiah addresses the Yahweh to anger. Jews dwelling in the cities of Egypt of their b) Because they went to burn incense and sinful past. to serve other gods whom they did not 1) The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah know nor their fathers. for all the Jews who had fled to Egypt 4) Yahweh pointed out their past during the three long sieges of Jerusalem accountability. Vs. 4-5 to take refuge in the particular cities. Vs. a) He had sent to them all His servant the 1 , rising up early and warning a) Migdol was east of Tahpanhes, in the them, “Oh, do not do this abominable north-east border of Egypt and it thing that I hate!” Vs. 4 means “tower”, at Tahpanhes, at b) He saw that they did not listen or Noph is Memphis, and in the country incline their ear to turn from their of Pathros was the entire land of wickedness, to burn no incense to Upper Egypt, from Memphis south, other gods. Vs. 5 fourteen miles of modern Cairo and at c) He judged them according to the least as far as Syene, modern day measure of the light they possessed by Aswan.. His fury and anger being poured out b) This is the last message in the and kindled in the cities of Judah and chronological time line of Jeremiah’s in the streets of Jerusalem; and they prophecies! are wasted and desolate, as it was that 2) The Captain of the armies of heaven, the day. Vs. 6 God of Israel was addressing them. Vs. 2 9 10

44:7-10 The prophet Jeremiah rebukes the their wives, your own wickedness, Jews about their personal rebellion. and the wickedness of your wives, 1) The Captain of the armies of heaven, which they committed in the land of the God of Israel now confronts them Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? in Egypt with their ongoing rebellion. Vs. 9 Vs. 7 * Forty years could not be forgotten a) Yahweh asks why they would commit so soon! this great evil against themselves. b) The problem was that they had not b) Resulting in cutting off from them been humbled, to that day, nor had man and woman, child and infant, out they feared; they had not walked in of Judah, leaving none to remain? Vs. His law or in his statutes that He set 7 before them and their fathers. Vs. 10 1)) It is a call to rational thinking, their actions did not make any 44:11-14 The prophet Jeremiah declares to the sense! Jews the judgment of Yahweh. 2)) Why would they want to repeat 1) The Captain of the armies of heaven, the the same mistake? God of Israel had one verdict, He would 2) The reason again is like their fathers. Vs. set His face against them for catastrophe 8 and cutting off all of Judah. Vs. 11 a) They had provoked Him to wrath with 2) The remnant of Judah who have set their the works of their hands, burning faces to go into the land of Egypt to incense to other gods in the land of dwell would be consumed and fall in the Egypt where you had gone to dwell. land of Egypt. Vs. 12 b) They in affect cut themselves off and a) They would be consumed by the be a curse and a reproach among all sword and by famine. the nations of the earth? b) They would die, from the least to the 3) The question Yahweh asks is in irony, greatest, by the sword and by famine. adding to their guilt. Vs. 9-10 c) They would be an oath, an a) “Have you forgotten the wickedness astonishment, a curse and a reproach! of your fathers, the wickedness of the 3) Yahweh would punish those who dwelt in kings of Judah, the wickedness of the land of Egypt, as He had punished 11 12

Jerusalem, by the sword, by famine, and have done, we and our fathers, our by pestilence. Vs. 13 kings and our princes, in the cities of 4) None would escape or survive, except Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. those who escaped as God’s remnant. Vs. Vs. 17a-f 14 * Jer. 7:18; 44:17, 8, 19, 25 3) The witness of their devotion. Vs. 17g-18 44:15-19 The people give evidence to their a) They said they had plenty of food, ongoing rebellion against Yahweh. were well-off, and saw no trouble, as they worshipped their idols. Vs. 17g-e 44:15-18 The men addressed Jeremiah and b) They said, that since they stopped affirmed their allegiance to the Queen of burning incense to the queen of heaven. heaven and pouring out drink 1) The men consented to their wives offerings to her, they had lacked idolatry. Vs. 15 everything and had been consumed by a) Then all the men who knew that their the sword and by famine. Vs. 18 wives had burned incense to other 1)) There are always those who gods, addressed Jeremiah. associate money and prosperity b) All the women stood by, a great with God as evidence of being one multitude, and all the people who with God or having favor from dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, God, but the Scriptures actually to answered Jeremiah. teach the opposite and caution us * Lower and upper Egypt! regarding such people. Job 1:9; 2) The witness of their rebellious words. Vs. 1Tim. 6:5 16-17a-f 2)) The queen of heaven was the a) As for the word that you have spoken Babylonian-Assyrian goddess to us in the name of the LORD, we Ishtar the goddess of the star will not listen to you! Venus, corresponding to the b) But we will certainly do whatever has Canaanite Astarte, Greek gone out of our own mouth, to burn Aphrodite and Roman Venus. incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we 13 14

2)) The Catholic church has given to shaped cakes or figurines stamped Mary the title of the “Queen of with the image of the goddess. heaven”. 3)) The worship was introduced to 44:20-23 The prophet Jeremiah declared Israel by Manasseh. 2Kings 21:1- their present judgment was due to their sin. 18 4)) Removed by . 2Kings 23:4- 44:20-21 The Lord was aware of their idolatry 20; Jer. 23:4-15 in the past. 5)) Revived again by . Jer. 1) Jeremiah responded to all the men, 23:36-24-7 women and the people who had 6)) The great appeal was to women, answered him. Vs. 20 as she played the role of the goddess 2) Jeremiah told the people that Yahweh had of fertility! not been ignorant to their burning of their incense in the cities of Judah and in the 44:19 The women addressed Jeremiah and streets of Jerusalem, by their fathers, affirmed also their allegiance to the Queen their kings, princes, and the people of the of heaven. land. Vs. 21 1) The women told Jeremiah that they had * The long-suffering of God exposed worshipped the queen of heaven by their great guilt! permission of their husbands. Num. 30:6- 7 44:22 The Lord would not tolerate their * They were in affect telling Jeremiah idolatry in the present. that he had no right to interfere or 1) The LORD drew a line to the evil of their meddle in their family circle. doings and abominations which they 2) Their deception had blinded them to their were committing. Vs. 22a-b sin as they attempted to defend 2) For that reason their land was a themselves by the authority of their desolation, an astonishment, a curse, and husbands. without an inhabitant, as it is this day. * They had syncretized the worship of Vs. 22c-g Yahweh, offering their crescent- 3) It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance but when rejected over and 15 16

over in accordance with a hardness and 44:26-28 The people were disassociated with an impenitent heart one is treasuring up God to be punished. for himself wrath in the day of wrath and 1) They were to hear the word of the LORD, revelation of the righteous judgment of all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: God. Rom. 2:4-5 as God sworn by His great name, that His name would no more be named in the 44:23 The Lord would punish their idolatry. mouth of any man of Judah in all the land 1) They had sinned against the Lord in all of Egypt, saying, “The Lord GOD lives.” their ritual, ceremonies to their idols. Vs. Vs. 26 23a 2) Yahweh would watch over them for 2) They had not obeyed the voice of the adversity and not for good, all the men of LORD or walked in His law, in His Judah in the land of Egypt would be statutes or in His testimonies. Vs. 23b-c consumed by the sword and by famine, 3) These were the reasons why this calamity until there is an end to them. Vs. 27 had happened to them, that day. Vs. 23d- 3) Only a small number would escape the e sword and return to the land of Judah and they would know whose words would 44:24-30 The prophet Jeremiah held the stand, Yahweh’s or theirs. Vs. 28 people responsible for their choice to serve pagan gods. 44:28-30 The promised sign. 1) Yahweh would give them a sign that they 44:24-25 The words of the people reveal their might know that His words would surely guilt. stand against them for adversity. Vs. 29 1) The prophet Jeremiah told all the people 2) The sign would not be able to be missed, and to all the women to Hear the word “Yahweh would give Pharaoh Hophra of the LORD, who were in the land of king of Egypt into the hand of his Egypt! Vs. 24 enemies and into the hand of those who 2) The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, He sought his life, just as He had given had head their words of devotion and king of Judah into the hand of their intent to serve idols. Vs. 25 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy who sought his life.” Vs. 30 17 18

a) Pharaoh Hophra had promise help to 1) The words were prefaced by, “Thus says Zedekiah against Babylon but fell into the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O the hands of his enemies by the hand Baruch.” Vs. 2 of Amasis, an official who revolted a) He was from a noble family of upper and took the throne and executed him society, a scribe, the grandson of in 568/567 B. C. Jer. 37:5 Mahseiah, the governor of Jerusalem b) Jeremiah’s final words were true to his in the reign of Josiah. 2Chron. 34:8; call as prophet of God, proclaiming Jer. 32:12 the message of judgment in view of b) His brother Seriah was one of not repenting! Zedekiah’s officers. Jer. 51:59 c) He had become associated with 45:1-6 The prophet Jeremiah’s message to Jeremiah by all in Jerusalem. Baruch. 2) The words were the very words Baruch had spoken. Vs. 3 45:1 The faithful words of Jeremiah to a) You said, “Woe is me now!” Vs. 3a-b Baruch 1)) Perhaps all of Baruck’s dreams 1) God had a personal word to Baruch and aspirations had been destroyed through Jeremiah. Vs. 1a by becoming Jeremiah’s 2) The occasion was when he had written amanuensis. these words in a book at the instruction 2)) Certainly at the reading of the of Jeremiah. Vs. 1c-e scroll, the understanding was they * This places it after chapter thirty-six. were both in danger of their lives. Jer. 36:1; 25:1 Jer. 36:12, 16-17 3) The date was in the fourth year of 3) Jeremiah could not go to the Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of temple! Judah, 605 B. C. Vs. 1c-e b) For the LORD has added grief to my * The crucial battle of Charchemish sorrow. Vs. 3c where Babylon defeated Egypt. 1))By his awareness of the sinfulness of the people. 45:2-3 The foolish words of Baruch. 2)) By his faithfulness to Yahweh he had become a pro-Babylonians 19 20

sympathizer from the people’s 1)) Here in we go from speculation of perspective. the previous verses to Yahweh 3)) The Lord hid both of them from putting His finger on what was the king. Jer. 36:26; Ps. 6:6 being contemplated in the heart of c) I fainted in my sighing, and I find no Baruch. rest. Vs. 3d-e 2)) He was thinking of those things * The time was tense and filled with which would bring about his fame, anxiety! Ps. 6:6 wealth and prestige. b) The caution to Baruch was, “Do not 45:4-5 The faithful words of God to Baruch. seek them; for behold, I will bring 1) Yahweh affirms His plans for the nation. adversity on all flesh," says the Vs. 4 LORD. Vs. 5b-e a) Jeremiah was the mediator, “Thus you 1)) Yahweh tells Baruch that none of shall say to him, `Thus says the those things will mean anything if LORD”. Vs. 4a-b he would attain them, for all would b) Jeremiah was to say, “Behold, what I be lost in the end. have built I will break down, and 2)) He would not be able to secure what I have planted I will pluck up, what he longed to obtain. that is, this whole land.” Vs. 4c-g c) The kindness to Baruch was, “But I 1)) Yahweh reminds Baruch of His will give your life to you as a prize in own difficult task of destroying all places, wherever you go.” Vs. 5f-g His own nation, therefore Baruch 1)) Yahweh rather tells Baruch that was not to shirk back from the will He would give to him his life, and plan of God. which was worth more than any 2)) Baruch was to trust Yahweh. fame or wealth. 2) Yahweh affirms what was in the heart of 2)) The promise was in all the places Baruch. Vs. 5 he would go to. a) The question to Baruch was, “And do 3)) The choice was Baruch’s, the you seek great things for yourself?” temporal or the eternal. 2Cor. 12:7 Vs. 5a 21 22

* A similar promise was made to the Ethiopian eunuch. Jer. 21:9; 38:2