And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just say they went to Egypt, but that they "came even to Tahpanhes." This subtle emphasis highlights how far they pressed their disobedience, traveling all the way to this specific, likely significant, royal residence on the frontier, a destination far removed from the homeland God had intended for them.
And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jeremiah delivered God's final warning, the remaining leaders and people, driven by fear and their own desires, defied the prophet and fled to Egypt. They forcibly took Jeremiah and Baruch with them, ignoring God's command to stay in Judah. Upon arriving in Egypt, they reached the frontier city of Tahpanhes, demonstrating their continued disobedience and setting themselves up for further judgment.
Have you ever felt like you're walking into a bad situation, even when you know better? This verse paints a stark picture of just that.
The people of Judah, after the destruction of Jerusalem, were given a choice: stay in their devastated land and trust God's promises through Jeremiah, or flee to Egypt for perceived safety.
A Path of Defiance
Jeremiah 43:7 makes it clear why they chose Egypt: "for they did not obey the voice of the LORD." This wasn't a mistake or a misunderstanding; it was a deliberate act of disobedience.
They rejected God's word spoken through His prophet, opting instead for their own plan and a foreign land. This decision carried immense consequences, as Egypt, while seemingly a refuge, would ultimately become a place of judgment for them.
Why Egypt? And why this specific city? The destination itself tells a story of misplaced hope.
The journey described in Jeremiah 43:7 ends at a specific location: Tahpanhes. This city, located on the northeastern frontier of Egypt, was significant for several reasons.
A Royal Residence and a Frontier Town
Commentators suggest Tahpanhes was a place of royal residence or had a royal palace, making it a logical stopping point for those seeking refuge or political alliance. It was also a frontier city, the first major point of contact for those coming from Canaan.
However, for the disobedient Israelites, this seemingly strategic location offered no true security. It was a place they fled to in defiance of God, and as other passages in Jeremiah reveal (like chapters 44 and 46), Egypt itself would face God's judgment, bringing disaster not only to its inhabitants but also to the refugees who sought shelter there.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the Creator, Redeemer, and Sovereign God of Israel. It emphasizes His personal relationship with His people and His faithfulness to His promises.
šāmaʿ · Hebrew Verb
The act of hearing and responding to divine authority. Biblically, obedience is more than just listening; it implies active compliance with the revealed commands of God.
This verse highlights a desperate act of defiance and fear. The Jewish remnant, fleeing the devastation of their homeland and rejecting God's prophet, seeks refuge in Egypt, a land that would ultimately prove to be both a temporary haven and a place of judgment.
c. 589-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, leading to its ultimate destruction and the deportation of a significant portion of its population.
c. 586 BC
Assassination of Gedaliah
Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor of Judah, is assassinated by Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, plunging the remaining Jewish population into fear and uncertainty.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Flight of the Remnant to Egypt
Fearful of Babylonian reprisals after Gedaliah's assassination and defying the prophet Jeremiah's warnings, a large group of Judeans, including military leaders, force Jeremiah and Baruch to accompany them into Egypt.
c. 586 BC
Arrival at Tahpanhes
The group of Judean refugees arrives at Tahpanhes, a royal Egyptian city on the northeastern frontier, likely seeking refuge and perhaps political support.
c. 6th century BC
Egyptian Political Instability
Egypt, while not fully conquered by Babylon, was weakened by earlier incursions and experienced internal political shifts, making its reception of refugees precarious.
This verse directly refers to Egypt and its role as a place of refuge and judgment, echoing the theme of seeking security in a foreign land outside of God's will.
Ezekiel 30:13Ezekiel prophesies against Egypt and its idols, mentioning the destruction of cities like Memphis and Thebes; this context highlights Egypt's spiritual state and its eventual judgment, providing a grim backdrop to the Israelites' arrival.
Deuteronomy 17:16This passage warns against the king multiplying horses and returning to Egypt for horses, symbolizing a reliance on earthly power and alliances instead of God; Jeremiah's people fleeing to Egypt directly parallels this forbidden action.
Jeremiah 44:15-19The people who fled to Egypt, including those at Tahpanhes, later explicitly reject God's word and claim their troubles began when they stopped worshipping the Queen of Heaven in Egypt, directly illustrating their continued disobedience and rationalization.
barnesJeremiah 43:7: "So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes."
Tahpanhes - See the Jeremiah 2:16 note.
pooleJeremiah 43:7: "So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes."
Egypt at this time, though it was humbled by the king of Babylon, by an inroad he had made into it, of which we read, 2 Kings 24:7 , yet it was a distinct kingdom, and being near to Canaan, the Jews often fled thither for sanctuary, and borrowed assistance against their enemies from them. Of this city we read little but in holy writ. 1 Kings 11:19 , we read of a que…
The verse doesn't just say they went to Egypt, but that they "came even to Tahpanhes." This subtle emphasis highlights how far they pressed their disobedience, traveling all the way to this specific, likely significant, royal residence on the frontier, a destination far removed from the homeland God had intended for them.
After Jeremiah delivered God's final warning, the remaining leaders and people, driven by fear and their own desires, defied the prophet and fled to Egypt. They forcibly took Jeremiah and Baruch with them, ignoring God's command to stay in Judah. Upon arriving in Egypt, they reached the frontier city of Tahpanhes, demonstrating their continued disobedience and setting themselves up for further judgment.
After Jeremiah delivered God's final warning, the remaining leaders and people, driven by fear and their own desires, defied the prophet and fled to Egypt. They forcibly took Jeremiah and Baruch with them, ignoring God's command to stay in Judah. Upon arriving in Egypt, they reached the frontier city of Tahpanhes, demonstrating their continued disobedience and setting themselves up for further judgment.
"And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. And they arrived at Tahpanhes." — The verse doesn't just say they went to Egypt, but that they "came even to Tahpanhes." This subtle emphasis highlights how far they pressed their disobedience, traveling all the way to this speci…
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Last reviewed October 2026