Jeremiah 43:6
the men, the women, the children, the princesses, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan; also Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to overlook that Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch weren't just taken along with everyone else, but that the rebellious leaders specifically forced them into Egypt. This act, meant to punish and silence them, instead ensured God's message of impending judgment would follow the people even into exile.
Following a brutal defeat and the assassination of Gedaliah, a Jewish governor appointed by the Babylonians, the remaining people are terrified of Babylonian reprisals. Despite God's clear command through Jeremiah to stay in Judah, a group of defiant Jewish leaders, including Johanan, forcibly take everyone left behind—including women, children, royal daughters, and even Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch—and flee to Egypt. This verse lists the diverse group of people swept up in this act of disobedience, highlighting the forced nature of their journey into exile.
This verse lists everyone who was taken into Egypt, painting a stark picture of the final moments of Judah's inhabitants. What does this exhaustive list reveal about their fate?
The leaders of Judah, led by Johanan, forcefully took the remaining people of Judah and fled to Egypt, defying God's prophet, Jeremiah. This wasn't a planned resettlement but a desperate, disobedient flight.
Who Was Taken?
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Why would these leaders, already having suffered so much, make such a drastically disobedient choice? This verse highlights the tragic outcome of ignoring God's messengers.
Johanan and his men, despite having received a clear message from God through Jeremiah not to go to Egypt, chose to disobey. This act of rebellion led them and everyone with them into a path of destruction.
The Root of the Rebellion
Understand the original words
nābîʾ · Hebrew Noun
An inspired messenger of God who speaks under divine influence. Prophets in the Bible were tasked with declaring God’s will, warning of judgment, and promising future restoration.
This verse highlights the desperate and disobedient actions of the remnant of Judah, who, after Gedaliah's assassination, fled to Egypt despite Jeremiah's prophetic warnings against it.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, destroys Jerusalem, its Temple, and deports the majority of its inhabitants to Babylon. A small remnant is left behind.
586 BC
Appointment of Gedaliah as Governor
Nebuzaradan, captain of the Babylonian guard, appoints Gedaliah, a Jewish official, to govern the remaining population in Judah. He is based at Mizpah.
c. 586 BC
Assassination of Gedaliah
Gedaliah and many Jews who had surrendered or remained in Judah are murdered by Ishmael, a disgruntled member of the royal family, supported by some mercenaries.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Flight to Egypt
Fearful of Babylonian reprisals after Gedaliah's assassination, a large group of Judeans, including the leaders Johanan and Azariah, force the prophet Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch to accompany them into exile in Egypt, against Jeremiah's warnings.
This passage immediately precedes the current one and details the massacre of the royal family, explaining the presence of 'king's daughters' in this group.
2 Kings 25:23-26This provides the broader historical context of Gedaliah's appointment as governor and the subsequent assassination, setting the stage for the desperate actions of those who fled to Egypt.
Ezekiel 12:10-16This prophecy speaks of a leader and his people being captured and exiled, mirroring the fate of those in Jeremiah's time who disobeyed God's word.
Proverbs 26:4-5This proverb highlights the folly of answering fools according to their folly, which resonates with the Jews' decision to disregard God's warning and flee to Egypt, acting out of fear rather than faith.
Matthew 7:24-27This parable of the wise and foolish builders shows the contrast between obedience to God's word and self-willed actions, a key theme for the remnant who chose Egypt over trusting Jeremiah's prophecy.
clarkeJeremiah 43:6: "Even 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."
Men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters - See the note on Jeremiah 41:10 (note). It is truly surprising that the Chaldeans should have left behind any of the royal family of Judah! But, 1. Perhaps they knew not there were any. 2.…
calvinJeremiah 43:5-7: "But 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;"
Et assumpsit Joannes filius Kareah et cuncti duces copiarum reliquias Jehudah, quae reversae fuerant e cunctis gentibus, ad quas illuc expulsae fuerant (sed abundat illuc) ad habitandum in terra Jehudah;
Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every pe…
It's easy to overlook that Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch weren't just taken along with everyone else, but that the rebellious leaders specifically forced them into Egypt. This act, meant to punish and silence them, instead ensured God's message of impending judgment would follow the people even into exile.
Following a brutal defeat and the assassination of Gedaliah, a Jewish governor appointed by the Babylonians, the remaining people are terrified of Babylonian reprisals. Despite God's clear command through Jeremiah to stay in Judah, a group of defiant Jewish leaders, including Johanan, forcibly take everyone left behind—including women, children, royal daughters, and even Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch—and flee to Egypt. This verse lists the diverse group of people swept up in this act of disobedience, highlighting the forced nature of their journey into exile.
Following a brutal defeat and the assassination of Gedaliah, a Jewish governor appointed by the Babylonians, the remaining people are terrified of Babylonian reprisals. Despite God's clear command through Jeremiah to stay in Judah, a group of defiant Jewish leaders, including Johanan, forcibly take everyone left behind—including women, children, royal daughters, and even Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch—and flee to Egypt. This verse lists the diverse group of people swept up in this act of disobedience, highlighting the forced nature of their journey into exile.
"the men, the women, the children, the princesses, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan; also Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah." — It's easy to overlook that Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch weren't just taken along with everyone else, but that the rebellious leaders specifically forced them into Egypt. This act, meant to puni…
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