The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Judeans who lived in the land of Egypt, at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Memphis, and in the land of Pathros,
English Standard Version (ESV)
While the verse lists specific locations, its core message highlights God's enduring concern for all the Judeans in Egypt, not just those in major cities. The inclusion of "the country of Pathros" alongside cities like Migdol and Memphis emphasizes that even those in more rural or less prominent areas were included in God's message.
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Judeans who lived in the land of Egypt, at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Memphis, and in the land of Pathros,
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the fall of Jerusalem, a remnant of Judeans fled to Egypt, a place God had warned them against, settling in various locations like Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and Pathros. Jeremiah is now sent with a message from God specifically to these exiles, addressing their continued disobedience and idolatry in a foreign land. This chapter confronts them with the devastating consequences of their sin, reminding them of Jerusalem's destruction and God's ongoing judgment.
When disaster struck Jerusalem, many Judeans fled to Egypt, seeking refuge. But God's message didn't stop at the border.
Jeremiah 44:1 tells us that God's word came to Jeremiah concerning 'all the Judeans who lived in the land of Egypt.' This wasn't a small, isolated group; they had scattered to various locations like Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and the region of Pathros.
Think of it like this: even though these people had scattered like sheep in different pastures across a foreign land, God's message to them was still unified and powerful. He knew exactly where they were and what they were doing. The prophet's message wasn't diluted by distance or dispersed by their location; it found them wherever they had settled, highlighting God's persistent pursuit of His people, no matter their circumstances.
These Judeans fled to Egypt, believing it was a safe haven. But they didn't realize they were running from God's discipline into His deeper judgment.
The people who fled to Egypt had already experienced the devastation of Jerusalem and the cities of Judah. They saw firsthand the consequences of their sin. Yet, they chose to go to Egypt 'against God's will,' as some commentators note.
This wasn't an accidental journey; it was a deliberate choice to seek safety in a place God had previously warned them against. They were seeking a 'safe and quiet retreat' in Egypt, but their sin had followed them. God knew their tendency towards idolatry and false worship, and He had forbidden them to go to Egypt precisely because He knew they would pollute His worship there.
Their flight to Egypt highlights a dangerous pattern: trying to escape God's immediate discipline while continuing in the very sins that brought it about. This verse sets the stage for understanding that their 'refuge' would become another site of judgment.
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c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports some of the Jewish nobility and skilled workers, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon after a revolt. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
589 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem, a brutal conflict that lasts for over a year and a half. This siege leads to widespread famine and suffering within the city.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Babylonian forces breach Jerusalem's walls, destroy the city, and raze Solomon's Temple. The remaining population is largely deported to Babylon, marking the end of the southern kingdom of Judah.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Flight to Egypt
After the destruction of Jerusalem, a group of Jewish survivors, including the prophet Jeremiah and the priest Azariah, flee to Egypt against Jeremiah's warnings. They settle in various locations, including Migdol, Tahpanhes, Noph, and Pathros.
c. 586 BC
Jeremiah's Prophecy in Egypt
Jeremiah delivers a series of prophecies to the Jewish community in Egypt, condemning their idolatry and foretelling their impending destruction in Egypt, mirroring the fate of Jerusalem.
This passage reveals God's consistent pattern of sending prophets to warn His people, only for them to refuse to listen, echoing the disobedience of the Jews in Egypt.
Ezekiel 20:7-8This passage highlights the same theme of persistent idolatry and refusal to obey God's commands, showing how the people's sin in Egypt was a continuation of their ancestors' rebellion from the time they left Egypt.
Deuteronomy 28:64-66This passage directly foretells the scattering and distress that would come upon Israel for their disobedience, which the Jews in Egypt were now experiencing, demonstrating the consequences of turning away from God.
Jeremiah 43:7-13This passage immediately precedes Jeremiah 44 and shows the Jews fleeing to Egypt against Jeremiah's warning and bringing the prophet with them, setting the stage for God's message delivered in Egypt.
barnesJeremiah 44:1: "The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,"
Migdol - Magdolum, a strong fortress on the northern boundary of Egypt.
calvinJeremiah 44:1-7: "The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,"
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein;
Sic dicit Jehova exercituum, Deus Israel, Vos vidistis omne malum quod a…
While the verse lists specific locations, its core message highlights God's enduring concern for all the Judeans in Egypt, not just those in major cities. The inclusion of "the country of Pathros" alongside cities like Migdol and Memphis emphasizes that even those in more rural or less prominent areas were included in God's message.
After the fall of Jerusalem, a remnant of Judeans fled to Egypt, a place God had warned them against, settling in various locations like Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and Pathros. Jeremiah is now sent with a message from God specifically to these exiles, addressing their continued disobedience and idolatry in a foreign land. This chapter confronts them with the devastating consequences of their sin, reminding them of Jerusalem's destruction and God's ongoing judgment.
After the fall of Jerusalem, a remnant of Judeans fled to Egypt, a place God had warned them against, settling in various locations like Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and Pathros. Jeremiah is now sent with a message from God specifically to these exiles, addressing their continued disobedience and idolatry in a foreign land. This chapter confronts them with the devastating consequences of their sin, reminding them of Jerusalem's destruction and God's ongoing judgment.
"The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Judeans who lived in the land of Egypt, at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Memphis, and in the land of Pathros," — While the verse lists specific locations, its core message highlights God's enduring concern for all the Judeans in Egypt, not just those in major cities. The inclusion of "the country of Pathros"…
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Last reviewed October 2026