The Jews, contrary to the orders of God by the prophet, go into Egypt,
carrying Jeremias with them. He foretells the devastation of that land
by the king of Babylon.
43:1. And it came to pass, that when Jeremias had made an end of
speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which
the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words:
43:2. Azarias the son of Osaias, and Johanan the son of Caree, and all
the proud men, made answer, saying to Jeremias: Thou tellest a lie: the
Lord our God hath not sent thee, saying: Go not into Egypt, to dwell
there.
43:3. But Baruch the son of Nerias setteth thee on against us, to
deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, to kill us, and to cause us
to be carried away captives to Babylon.
43:4. So Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the
soldiers, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the Lord, to
remain in the land of Juda.
43:5. But Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the
soldiers took all the remnant of Juda, that were returned out of all
nations, to which they had before been scattered, to dwell in the land
of Juda:
43:6. Men, and women, and children, and the king’s daughters, and every
soul, which Nabuzardan the general had left with Godolias the son of
Ahicam the son of Saphan, and Jeremias the prophet, and Baruch the son
of Nerias.
43:7. And they went into the land of Egypt, for they obeyed not the
voice of the Lord: and they came as far as Taphnis.
43:8. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias in Taphnis, saying:
43:9. Take great stones in thy hand, and thou shalt hide them in the
vault that is under the brick wall at the gate of Pharao’s house in
Taphnis: in the sight of the men of Juda.
43:10. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God
of Israel: Behold I will send, and take Nabuchodonosor the king of
Babylon my servant: and I will set his throne over these stones which I
have hid, and he shall set his throne over them.
43:11. And he shall come and strike the land of Egypt: such as are for
death, to death: and such as are for captivity, to captivity: and such
as are for the sword, to the sword.
43:12. And he shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt,
and he shall burn them, and he shall carry them away captives: and he
shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on
his garment: and he shall go forth from thence in peace.
43:13. And he shall break the statues of the house of the sun, that are
in the land of Egypt; and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall
burn with fire.