Jeremiah 37:5-7
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This passage highlights a crucial, often missed, detail: the Chaldeans didn't just pause their siege; they withdrew. This temporary retreat, sparked by the approach of Pharaoh's army, created a fleeting window of "relief" for Jerusalem, a brief illusion of safety that tragically misled King Zedekiah and the people.
The army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt. And when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem. Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet: “Thus says the LORD, God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the king of Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me, ‘Behold, Pharaoh’s army that came to help you is about to return to Egypt, to its own land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Zedekiah, having broken his treaty with Babylon, sends messengers to Jeremiah seeking divine intervention amidst a siege by the Chaldeans. News arrives that an Egyptian army has marched to relieve Jerusalem, causing the Babylonians to temporarily withdraw. This unexpected reprieve creates a moment of hope for the besieged city, though Jeremiah knows it's temporary and leads to a further exchange with the king.
Jerusalem is under siege, the situation looks dire, and then suddenly, the enemy retreats. What just happened?
This verse highlights how God can intervene in the most unexpected ways, even when human plans seem to take over. The arrival of Pharaoh's army from Egypt wasn't just a geopolitical event; it was a divine pause button pressed on the Babylonian siege.
A Shift in the Tides
When the Chaldeans heard that an Egyptian army was on its way, they chose to withdraw. This wasn't necessarily because they were defeated, but because facing two powerful forces – Jerusalem's defenders and the Egyptian relief army – was a strategic risk they decided to avoid at that moment. This strategic retreat, initiated by human calculation, ultimately served God's larger purposes for Jeremiah and Jerusalem.
Timing is Everything
This temporary lifting of the siege created a crucial window. It was during this pause, as noted in the surrounding verses (Jeremiah 37:3), that King Zedekiah, desperate for any glimmer of hope, sent messengers to Jeremiah to pray for them. This moment, though fleeting, shows God orchestrating events to give a chance for repentance and reconsideration, even to a rebellious king.
The siege is lifted! Does this mean Jerusalem is safe? This verse offers a stark warning about misplaced trust.
The temporary retreat of the Chaldeans might have felt like salvation to the people of Jerusalem. However, the text makes it clear this was not a sign of lasting deliverance, but a prelude to greater judgment.
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A False Sense of Security
King Zedekiah, clinging to any hope, sent to Jeremiah to pray for them. This reveals a deep anxiety and a reliance on Egypt as a savior, rather than on the God they had long forsaken. The scholars note that Zedekiah had broken his covenant with Babylon and sought an alliance with Egypt, a move that ultimately proved disastrous.
God's Unwavering Word
Jeremiah's message, as seen in the verses following, was clear: Pharaoh's army would return to Egypt, and the Chaldeans would come back to conquer and burn Jerusalem. This temporary reprieve was not a reversal of God's judgment but a brief pause before its full execution. It was a 'gleam of hope' as one commentator put it, but a hope built on a human alliance, not divine faithfulness.
Understand the original words
kaśdîm · Hebrew Proper Noun (plural)
Referring to the people of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who were the instrument of God's judgment against Jerusalem and Judah during this historical period. They are often depicted in Scripture as a fierce and irresistible military force.
ṣûr · Hebrew Verb
A state of military blockade intended to capture a city by cutting off its supplies and resources. In the prophetic tradition, it is frequently portrayed as a consequence of national apostasy and divine judgment.
dabar YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The self-revealing communication of God to humanity, often mediated through prophets, intended to convey His will, judgment, or promises. It is considered authoritative and efficacious, meaning it always accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent.
Elohey Yisrael · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A title emphasizing God's unique covenantal relationship with the descendants of Jacob; it highlights His sovereignty, protection, and the spiritual authority He exercises over His chosen people.
This event shows the desperate hope placed in foreign alliances during a crisis, highlighting the precariousness of Zedekiah's reign and the temporary relief that ultimately led to further disaster.
c. 605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar, crown prince of Babylon, decisively defeats the Egyptian army, marking the end of Egypt's influence in the region and the rise of Babylonian power.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar deports Jehoiachin, the king of Judah, and many prominent citizens to Babylon. He installs Zedekiah as king in Jerusalem.
c. 590-570 BC
Reign of Pharaoh Hophra (Apries)
Pharaoh Hophra rules Egypt. Zedekiah of Judah seeks an alliance with him against Babylon, despite his oath of allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar.
c. 589-588 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem due to Zedekiah's rebellion and alliance with Egypt. The siege would eventually last for over a year.
c. 588 BC— this verse
Egyptian Army Advances
Pharaoh Hophra's army marches out of Egypt towards Jerusalem, intending to relieve the besieged city and challenge Babylonian authority.
c. 588 BC
Chaldeans Temporarily Withdraw
Upon hearing of the approaching Egyptian forces, the Chaldean army besieges Jerusalem lifts the siege to confront the Egyptians.
c. 587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
After the Egyptians withdraw and the Chaldeans return, Jerusalem is eventually conquered, its temple destroyed, and a large portion of its population deported to Babylon.
This passage directly references Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon and his alliance with Egypt, providing the political context for the events in Jeremiah 37.
Isaiah 31:1This prophecy warns against trusting in Egypt for help, highlighting the futility of relying on human strength and alliances over God's protection, a theme deeply relevant to Zedekiah's actions.
Jeremiah 44:30This verse names Pharaoh Hophra, the king of Egypt whose army was involved, and foreshadows his future downfall, underscoring the unreliability of Egypt as an ally.
Jeremiah 37:7-8This immediate context reveals God's message through Jeremiah: the Egyptian army would return home and the Chaldeans would come back to conquer Jerusalem, directly contrasting the hope placed in Egypt with God's sovereign decree.
2 Kings 24:10-17This passage describes the initial deportation of Judah's leaders and Jehoiachin to Babylon, setting the stage for Zedekiah's flawed kingship and his subsequent rebellion that led to the siege described in Jeremiah.
pooleJeremiah 37:5: "Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem."
Zedekiah was set up by the king of Babylon, instead of Jehoiachin, whom the king of Babylon had carried into Babylon. Zedekiah (as is usual in those cases, and as it appeareth, Ezekiel 17:16 ) had taken an oath of allegiance to the king of Babylon, but brake it, and the covenant which he made with him, Jeremiah 37:16 and, Jeremiah…
barnesJeremiah 37:5: "Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem."
Then - And. Pharaoh-Hophra Jeremiah 44:30 , the Apries of Herodotus, probably withdrew without giving Nebuchadnezzar battle. After a reign of 25 years, he was dethroned by Amasis, but allowed to inhabit his palace at Sais, where finally he was strangled.
This passage highlights a crucial, often missed, detail: the Chaldeans didn't just pause their siege; they withdrew. This temporary retreat, sparked by the approach of Pharaoh's army, created a fleeting window of "relief" for Jerusalem, a brief illusion of safety that tragically misled King Zedekiah and the people.
King Zedekiah, having broken his treaty with Babylon, sends messengers to Jeremiah seeking divine intervention amidst a siege by the Chaldeans. News arrives that an Egyptian army has marched to relieve Jerusalem, causing the Babylonians to temporarily withdraw. This unexpected reprieve creates a moment of hope for the besieged city, though Jeremiah knows it's temporary and leads to a further exchange with the king.
King Zedekiah, having broken his treaty with Babylon, sends messengers to Jeremiah seeking divine intervention amidst a siege by the Chaldeans. News arrives that an Egyptian army has marched to relieve Jerusalem, causing the Babylonians to temporarily withdraw. This unexpected reprieve creates a moment of hope for the besieged city, though Jeremiah knows it's temporary and leads to a further exchange with the king.
"The army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt. And when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem. Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet: “Thus says the LORD, God of Israel:…" — This passage highlights a crucial, often missed, detail: the Chaldeans didn't just pause their siege; they withdrew. This temporary retreat, sparked by the approach of Pharaoh's army, created a f…
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Last reviewed October 2026
