Jeremiah 43:9

Yahweh instructed Jeremiah to perform another symbolic act (cf. Jeremiah 13:4-7; Jeremiah 19:1-13; Jeremiah 27:1 to Jeremiah 28:16; Ezekiel 4:1-12; Ezekiel 5:1-4; Ezekiel 12:3-6; Ezekiel 12:18; Ezekiel 37:15-17). He was to hide some large stones in the mortar of the brick courtyard, in front of an official government building or royal residence in Tahpanhes, while some of the Judahites watched. Pharaoh evidently had a royal residence in Tahpanhes, as well as one at Elephantine, an island in the Nile River on the southern frontier of Egypt near modern Aswan. [Note: J. Bright, Jeremiah, p. 263.] Perhaps the large stones symbolized the foundation of Nebuchadnezzar’s future throne (Jeremiah 43:10), or the Jews over whom Nebuchadnezzar would rule.

"Sir Flinders Petrie, who excavated Tell Defenneh, found a large paved area which he believed to be the one referred to here. It was situated in front of what he identified as Pharaoh’s house, and was probably used as an unloading and storage area." [Note: Graybill, p. 686.]