Jeremiah 43

And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words,

1Jeremiah finished telling the people everything the LORD their God had said. God had sent him to tell them all these words.

2Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:

2Then Azariah son of Hoshaiah spoke up. Johanan son of Kareah spoke too, with all the proud men. They said to Jeremiah, "You are lying! The LORD our God did not send you to say, 'Do not go live in Egypt.'"

3But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.

3"Baruch son of Neriah is turning you against us. He wants the Chaldeans to catch us. Then they will kill us or take us far away to Babylon."

NoteThe Chaldeans were the people of Babylon, a strong country far away. Their army had already taken many people from Judah.

4So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah.

4So Johanan son of Kareah did not obey the LORD. The army leaders and all the people did not obey either. God had told them to stay in the land of Judah.

5But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah;

5Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and the army leaders took everyone who was left in Judah. These people had come back home from all the lands where they had been scattered.

6Even men, and women, and children, and the king’s daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.

6They took the men, the women, and the children. They took the king's daughters too. They took everyone Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan. They also took Jeremiah the prophet, a man who told people what God said, and Baruch son of Neriah.

7So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.

7So they went into the land of Egypt, because they did not obey the LORD. They went all the way to a town called Tahpanhes.

8Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,

8Then the LORD spoke to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes. He said:

9Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;

9"Pick up some big stones. Bury them in the clay of the brick walkway. It is at the doorway of Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes. Do this while the people of Judah watch."

NoteThe KJV says "brickkiln." It means the brick pavement, the hard brick floor by the palace door.

10And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

10"Then tell them what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: 'I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. I will set his throne on these stones I have buried. He will spread his royal tent over them.'"

11And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver 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.

11"'He will come and strike the land of Egypt. Those meant to die will die. Those meant to be taken away will be taken away. Those meant for the sword will fall by the sword.'"

12And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and 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.

12"'I will start a fire in the temples of Egypt's gods. He will burn them and carry their gods away. He will wrap the land of Egypt around himself. It will be like a shepherd wrapping himself in his coat. Then he will leave Egypt safely.'"

13He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.

13"'He will smash the stone pillars at the temple of the sun in Egypt. He will burn down the temples of Egypt's gods.'"

NoteThe KJV says "images of Bethshemesh." Bethshemesh means "house of the sun." These were tall stone pillars at a temple in Egypt where people worshiped the sun.