Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Jeremiah · Chapter 43
CHAP. XLIII.
Ver. 1. ANd it came to paſſe that when Jeremiah had made an end, &c.] See here how wicked men, and hypocrites eſpecially, grow worſe and worſe, deceiving and being deceived. Balaam being reſolved to curſe however, went not as at other times, but ſet his face toward the wilderneſſe, Num. 24.12. Now he would build no more altars, but curſe whatever came of it: ſo would theſe refractaries, without Gods good leave, go down to Egypt, putting it to the venture. Jeremyes ſweet words were even loſt upon them.
Ver. 2. Then ſpake Azariah] See on chap. 42.1.
And all the proud men] Pride is the root of rebellion. See chap. 13.15. Theſe mens Pride budded, as Ezek. 7.10. and as the leproſie, brake forth in their foreheads. See Hoſ. 7.1. with the Note.
Saying unto Jeremiah, Thou ſpeakeſt falſely] By this foul aſperſion, not proved at all, they ſeek to diſcredit his Propheſie: like as the Jews at this day do the New Teſtament; and the Papiſts the book of Martyrs and other Monuments of the Church, ſaying of them, So many lines, ſo many lyes.
Ver. 3. But Baruc the ſon of Neriah ſetteth thee on againſt us] A likely matter: what ſhould Baruc get by that? but malice careth not how truely or rationally it ſpeaketh or acteth, ſo it may gall or kill. Jeremy and Baruc muſt be ſaid to pack together, and to collude for a common diſturbance: like as the Papiſts ſay Luther and Zuinglius did; when as they knew nothing one of another for a long time after that they began to ſtickle againſt Popery, in ſeveral climates: and when they did hear of one another, they differed exceedingly, in the doctrine of the Sacrament eſpecially.
Ver. 4. So Johanan the ſon of Kareah, &c.] Nothing is more audacious and deſperate then an hypocrite, when once diſcovered. Now theſe ſubdoli ſhew themſelves in their colours, appear in their likeneſſe, going on end with their work.
Ver. 5. But Johanan—took all the remnant of Judah] Whoſe preſervation had been but a reſervation to further miſchief, a juſt puniſhment of their incorrigibleneſs.
Ver. 6. And Jeremiah the Prophet and Baruc the ſon of Neriah] This was not without a ſpecial Providence of God, that theſe Desperado's might ſtill have a Prophet with them, for the making of them the more inexcuſeable. If it befall any of Gods faithful ſervants, to be hurried whither they would not, as it did Jeremy and Baruc here, Paul alſo and Peter, Joh. 21.18. Ignatius, Polycarp, and other priſoners and ſufferers for the truth in all ages, let them comfort themſelves with theſe examples.
Ver. 7. Thus came they even to Tahpanhes] A chief City of Egypt, called alſo Hanes, Eſa. 30.4. Hierom calleth it Tunis; and Herodotus, Daphnis Peluſiae.
Ver. 8. Then came the Word of the Lord unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, ſaying] And although many more words beſides came to him whiles he was there, and many remarkable paſſages fell out, yet the holy Ghoſt hath recorded no more thereof, then what we find in this and the next Chapter.
Ver. 9. Take great ſtones in thine hand] Bricks, wherewith Egypt abounded, as being much of it muddy by reaſon of the inundation of the River Nilus: hence alſo their chief City was called Peluſium, or Daphnis Peluſiae. See ver. 7. It is ordinary with Jeremy to joyn Paradigms with his Prophecies, as here, that they might be the more evident, and take the deeper impreſſion.
Ver. 10. Behold I will ſend and take Nebuchadnezzar] By a ſecret inſtinct put into his heart.
And will ſet his throne upon theſe ſtones] This was dangerous for Jeremy to ſay at the Court-gate, and in the hearing of ſo many diſaffected Jews, who would be ready enough to make the worſt of every thing. Some ſay they ſtoned him with brickbats for this very propheſie.
Ver. 11. And when he cometh] Being ſent and ſet on by God.
He ſhall ſmite the land of Egypt] As for their Idolatry, &c. ſo eſpecially for harbouring theſe perfidious Jews, whom divine Vengeance ſtill purſueth hot-foot, and will not ſuffer them to live anywhere, ſith they would not be perſwaded to live in Gods good land, and by his good laws.
Ver. 12. And I will kind's a fire in the houſe of the gods of Egypt] Goodly gods they were that could not keep their Temples from burning. Diana, ſaid one jeſtingly, was ſo buſie at the birth of great Alexander, that ſhe could not a while to be at Epheſus, where her ſtately Temple was at the ſame time ſet on fire by Heroſtratus.
And he ſhall array himſelf with the land of Egypt as a Shepherd putteth on his garment] i. e. Eaſily and ſpeedily ſhall he carry away the ſpoile of that rich country, there being none there to hinder him either in taking them, or carrying them away:
Pastor enim ſecum portat tectumque, laremque.
Ver. 13. He ſhall break alſo the images of Bethſhemeſh] Or Heliopolis, Lib. 2.where the Sun was worſhipped with great ſuperſtition, as Herodotus writeth. The Hebrews alſo called this City On or Aven, that is Vanity or Iniquity, as well they might for the abominable idolatry there committed. Joſephus ſaith that five years after this propheſie,Antiq. l. 10. c. 11. Nebuchad…ezzar (who had Egypt given him as pay for his paines at Tyre) invaded Egypt; and the King thereof being ſlain, he ſet up another there, and took the Jews that remained alive away into Babylon.