Ver. 1. And it came to pass, 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 wilderness. (Numbers 24:1,2) Now he would build no more altars, but curse whatever came of it; so would these refractories, without God’s good leave, go down to Egypt, putting it to the venture. Jeremiah’s sweet words were even lost upon them.
Ver. 2. Then spake Azariah.] See on Jeremiah 42:1. And all the proud men.] Pride is the root of rebellion. See Jeremiah 13:15. These men’s pride budded, [as Ezekiel 7:10] and as the leprosy, brake forth in their foreheads. See Hosea 7:1. [See Trapp on “Ho 7:1”] Saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely.] By this foul aspersion, not proven at all, they seek to discredit his prophecy, like as the Jews do to this day the New Testament, and the Papists the Book of Martyrs and other monuments of the Church, saying of them, So many lines, so many lies.
Ver. 3. But Baruch, the son of Neriah, setteth thee on against us.] A likely matter. What should Baruch gain by that? but malice careth not how truly or rationally it speaketh or acteth, so it may gall or kill Jeremiah and Baruch must be said to be in league together, and to collude for a common disturbance, like as the Papists say Luther and Zuinglius did; whereas 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 than a hypocrite when once discovered. Now these subdoli show themselves in their colours, appear in their likeness, 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 Baruch the son of Neriah.] This was not without a special providence of God, that these desperadoes might still have a prophet with them, for the making of them the more inexcusable. If it befall any of God’s faithful servants to be hurried whither they would not, as it did Jeremiah and Baruch here, Paul also and Peter, (John 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. (Isaiah 30:4) Jerome 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 while he was there, and many remarkable passages happened, yet the Holy Ghost has recorded no more thereof than 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 Nile; hence also their chief city was called Pelusium, or Daphnis Pelusiae. See Jeremiah 43:7. It is ordinary with Jeremiah to join 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 Jeremiah 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 everything. Some say they stoned him with brickbats for this very prophecy. A piece or fragment of a brick; properly, according to Gwilt, less than one half of its length. It is the typical ready missile, where stones are scarce.
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 pursues hot foot, and will not allow them to live anywhere, since they would not be persuaded to live in God’s good land, and by his good laws.
Ver. 12. And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt.] Goodly gods they were, that could not keep their temples from burning! Diana, said one jestingly, was so busy at the birth of great Alexander that she could not for some while 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 spoil of that rich country, there being none there to hinder him, either in taking them or carrying them away: “ Pastor enim secure portat tectumque, laremque. ”
Ver. 13. He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh.] Or, Heliopolis, 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 prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar, who had Egypt given him as pay for his pains 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. Lib. ii. Antiq., lib. x. cap. 11.