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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 43:13

He shall break also the images of Beth-shemesh - שמש בית beith shemesh is, literally, the house or temple of the sun; which was worshipped here, and whose images are said to have been of solid gold. These Nebuchadnezzar was to break and carry away; and the houses of the gods - all the temples of Egypt, he was to burn with fire. Beth-shemesh is the same as Heliopolis. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 43:8

Verse 8 This passage shews that the Prophet was by force drawn away with others, so that he became an exile in Egypt contrary to his own wishes; for he did not go there of his own accord, inasmuch as we have seen how strictly he forbade them all to go down to Egypt. He was, however, compelled to go there, as though he had been bound with chains. He did not then go there designedly, nor did he through despair follow those miserable men; for he would have preferred to die a hundred times through... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 43:9

Verse 9 He was then commanded to take great stones, and to hide them in the clay, or cement, in a brick-kiln, that is, in a kiln where bricks were burnt, or in a place where they were usually made, or where materials were taken to form them. And this place was not far from the palace of the king in the city of Taphnees, as the Prophet expressly declares; nay, he says that it was nigh the gate. As, then, this place was near the palace, the Prophet was bidden to hide there the stones, and in the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 43:10

Verse 10 Behold, I, —the particle demonstrative and the pronoun are both emphatical, הנני, enni; Behold, I send, he says, to bring Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne on these stones We now understand the drift of the whole, even that these stones were thrown into the cement, that God might build up a throne for Nebuchadnezzar. The time, indeed, for building the throne had not yet come; but God’s purpose was to lay the foundations, so that they might be hid... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 43:11

Verse 11 He confirms the former verse by what he says here and in the two following verses to the end of the chapter. As Egypt had cities well fortified and deemed impregnable, the Jews never thought that the Chaldeans could so easily penetrate into them. For, first, that country is situated in a plain; and, secondly, in the midst of lakes: and it is in part surrounded by the Nile and the Red Sea. As, then, Egypt was on every side so well fortified, they thought that there would be there a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 43:12

Verse 12 He goes on with the same subject; and he ascribes to God the kindling of the fire, that the Jews might know that the war would be conducted by a divine power, and that Nebuchadnezzar would not come except through God’s providence. For though, as it has been said, he had his own reasons, yet God, by his wonderful power, led him, as it were, by the hand, to punish the Egyptians. They, indeed, deserved such a destruction, because they had by their fiat-teries deceived the miserable Jews,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 43:13

Verse 13 WE stated yesterday why Jeremiah spoke especially of the temples of the gods, even that the Jews might understand that nothing would escape destruction: for even the cruel-est enemies have usually withheld their hands from the temples of gods. If sanctity and religion would not preserve the temples, what then would become of private houses? He intimates, in short, that such would be the ruin of Egypt, that no part would escape. But as Heliopolis was then in the greatest repute, he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 43:1-13

Hearts set to do evil. Such were the hearts of these Jews. They show concerning such— I. THAT AFFLICTION WALL NOT ALTER THEM . It is not always true that affliction will make the heart better. It serves this blessed end with some—cf. "Before I was afflicted I went," etc.—but not with all. Did not in this case, but though "often reproved," they only "hardened their neck." II. PRAYERS AND PROFESSION OF RELIGION DO NOT CONTROL THEM . They can go together.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 43:8-13

Prophetic stones. Jeremiah planting stones at the entrance of Pharaoh's palace was prophesying by act. The stones were mute prophecies interpreted by the verbal prophecies which in turn they were to confirm in the future. These prophetic stones have their lessons for us. I. DIVINE PURPOSES ARE FIRM AND PERMANENT . They are like the great stones. Words are but air waves; to the incredulous the strongest words may be mere sound and fury, signifying nothing; they melt as they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 43:8-13

The stones of Tahpanhes. Great uncertainty as to the fulfilment of this prophetic parable. Are we bound to assume that it was actually carried out? It is possible, according to some critics (but see Exposition on Jeremiah 46:13 ), that the accomplishment of the prediction, as of many others, was only contingent. It is very vivid and definite, but that is quite consistent with the intermediate occurrence of circumstances in the spiritual state of the Jewish sojourners that enabled God to... read more

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