Contents:
Summary
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary

Summary:
Ch.41: Gedaliah the Judaean Representative of Babylon is assassinated. The remnant of the people fear Babylonian anger and set out to flee to Egypt. Amongst them were the daughters of King Zedekiah.

Ch.42: The fugitives of Judah ask advice of Jeremiah. Jeremiah says that if they stay in the Land the Babylonians will have mercy on them. If however they flee to Egypt the sword, famine, and pestilence will pursue them.

Ch.43: The people do not listen to Jeremiah. They go down to Egypt taking Jeremiah, Baruch son of Neriah, and the daughters of King Zedekiah with them. They go to Tahpanes in Egypt otherwise known as Daphne.
Jeremiah prophesies that disaster will come upon the fugitives in Egypt.
There is an Irish tradition concerning Tea Tephi, the "Eastern" princess who with "Simon Barac" (i.e. Baruch son of Neriah, student-disciple of Jeremiah) came to Ireland and married a Milesian Prince. From this union emerged the Royal Lines of the British Isles. Many believe that not only Baruch but also Jeremiah came to Ireland and that the "Eastern Princess" named Tea Tephi was a daughter of KIng Zedekiah descendant of King David.

Ch. 44: Jeremiah prophecies that disaster will come upon Egypt and the Jews that have fled there. The Jews are condemned for worshipping idols and not keeping the Law. They reply that ever since they have ceased worshipping "the Queen of Heaven" bad luck has befallen them. Jeremiah says their bad luck is the result of idolatry. They will be punished and only a remnant saved.
Husbands are condemned for the deeds of their wives.

Jeremiah 41
[Jeremiah 41:1] NOW IT CAME TO PASS IN THE SEVENTH MONTH, THAT ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH THE SON OF ELISHAMA, OF THE SEED ROYAL, AND THE PRINCES OF THE KING, EVEN TEN MEN WITH HIM, CAME UNTO GEDALIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM TO MIZPAH; AND THERE THEY DID EAT BREAD TOGETHER IN MIZPAH.
Ishmael was of royal blood. He had reason to resent the ascendancy of Gedaliah who was a noble but not mentioned as being a member of the House of David. The King of Amon was inciting Ishmael to eliminate Gedaliah. Baalis of Amon was still engaged in hostilities against Babylon and according to Josephus was destined to be defeated later by Nebuchadnessar.

[Jeremiah 41:2] THEN AROSE ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH, AND THE TEN MEN THAT WERE WITH HIM, AND SMOTE GEDALIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM THE SON OF SHAPHAN WITH THE SWORD, AND SLEW HIM, WHOM THE KING OF BABYLON HAD MADE GOVERNOR OVER THE LAND.
With the death of Gedaliah began those events that marked the completion of the First Exile. This event embodies the tragedy that befall Judah and that was to recur frequently over the centuries. The death of Gedaliah is marked by a day long fast every year on the day after the New Year Day around the month of September. It is healthy to fast to a degree, as long as one does not overdo it. I myself have enough strength of character to fast on days I am obliged to but no more than that.

[Jeremiah 41:3] ISHMAEL ALSO SLEW ALL THE JEWS THAT WERE WITH HIM, EVEN WITH GEDALIAH, AT IZPAH, AND THE CHALDEANS THAT WERE FOUND THERE, AND THE MEN OF WAR.

[Jeremiah 41:4] AND IT CAME TO PASS THE SECOND DAY AFTER HE HAD SLAIN GEDALIAH, AND NO MAN KNEW IT,

[Jeremiah 41:5] THAT THERE CAME CERTAIN FROM SHECHEM, FROM SHILOH, AND FROM SAMARIA, EVEN FOURSCORE MEN, HAVING THEIR BEARDS SHAVEN, AND THEIR CLOTHES RENT, AND HAVING CUT THEMSELVES, WITH OFFERINGS AND INCENSE IN THEIR HAND, TO BRING THEM TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
It is not certain if the 80 people coming from "SHECHEM, FROM SHILOH, AND FROM SAMARIA" were remnants of the Ten Tribes or Jewish refugees from Judah. They came in mourning. They had cut themselves up in mourning after the pagan custom that the Israelites were forbidden to follow (Deuteronomy 14:1). They had intended to make some kind of offering on the ruins of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This was forbidden but these people were not subservient to the Law in the modern sense. This is a phenomenon that must be recognized. People could have deeply religious, devout, spiritual feelings and experiences yet still not obey the Law and even mix their religious expressions with pagan practices. To different degrees we all have the same weaknesses.

[Jeremiah 41:6] AND ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH WENT FORTH FROM MIZPAH TO MEET THEM, WEEPING ALL ALONG AS HE WENT: AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE MET THEM, HE SAID UNTO THEM, COME TO GEDALIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM.

[Jeremiah 41:7] AND IT WAS SO, WHEN THEY CAME INTO THE MIDST OF THE CITY, THAT ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH SLEW THEM, AND CAST THEM INTO THE MIDST OF THE PIT, HE, AND THE MEN THAT WERE WITH HIM.

[Jeremiah 41:8] BUT TEN MEN WERE FOUND AMONG THEM THAT SAID UNTO ISHMAEL, SLAY US NOT: FOR WE HAVE TREASURES IN THE FIELD, OF WHEAT, AND OF BARLEY, AND OF OIL, AND OF HONEY. SO HE FORBARE, AND SLEW THEM NOT AMONG THEIR BRETHREN.

[Jeremiah 41:9] NOW THE PIT WHEREIN ISHMAEL HAD CAST ALL THE DEAD BODIES OF THE MEN, WHOM HE HAD SLAIN BECAUSE OF GEDALIAH, WAS IT WHICH ASA THE KING HAD MADE FOR FEAR OF BAASHA KING OF ISRAEL: AND ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH FILLED IT WITH THEM THAT WERE SLAIN.
Asa King of Judah had fought a war against Baasha king of the Ten Tribes of Northern "Israel" (2-Chronicles 16). Baasha had retreated from some great kind of wall he had began to construct. Out of the building material for this wall Asa had built up Mizpeh and Gibeon. The two halves of Israel had divided and fought against each other. Their punishment was that halves were exiled separately. Each half was crippled in a different way. Each half lacked the qualities and successes that the other other half had. They could have enabled each other to achieve a more complete wholeness and blessing.

<< IN THE SIX AND THIRTIETH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF ASA BAASHA KING OF ISRAEL CAME UP AGAINST JUDAH, AND BUILT RAMAH, TO THE INTENT THAT HE MIGHT LET NONE GO OUT OR COME IN TO ASA KING OF JUDAH.

<< THEN ASA BROUGHT OUT SILVER AND GOLD OUT OF THE TREASURES OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD AND OF THE KING'S HOUSE, AND SENT TO BENHADAD KING OF SYRIA, THAT DWELT AT DAMASCUS, SAYING,

<< THERE IS A LEAGUE BETWEEN ME AND THEE, AS THERE WAS BETWEEN MY FATHER AND THY FATHER: BEHOLD, I HAVE SENT THEE SILVER AND GOLD; GO, BREAK THY LEAGUE WITH BAASHA KING OF ISRAEL, THAT HE MAY DEPART FROM ME.

<< AND BENHADAD HEARKENED UNTO KING ASA, AND SENT THE CAPTAINS OF HIS ARMIES AGAINST THE CITIES OF ISRAEL; AND THEY SMOTE IJON, AND DAN, AND ABELMAIM, AND ALL THE STORE CITIES OF NAPHTALI.

<< AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN BAASHA HEARD IT, THAT HE LEFT OFF BUILDING OF RAMAH, AND LET HIS WORK CEASE.

<<THEN ASA THE KING TOOK ALL JUDAH; AND THEY CARRIED AWAY THE STONES OF RAMAH, AND THE TIMBER THEREOF, WHEREWITH BAASHA WAS BUILDING; AND HE BUILT THEREWITH GEBA AND MIZPAH >>[2-Chronicles 16:1-6]

Getting back to the Book of Jeremiah:
[Jeremiah 41:10] THEN ISHMAEL CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE ALL THE RESIDUE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN MIZPAH, EVEN THE KING'S DAUGHTERS, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT REMAINED IN MIZPAH, WHOM NEBUZARADAN THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD HAD COMMITTED TO GEDALIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM: AND ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH CARRIED THEM AWAY CAPTIVE, AND DEPARTED TO GO OVER TO THE AMMONITES.

[Jeremiah 41:11] BUT WHEN JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH, AND ALL THE CAPTAINS OF THE FORCES THAT WERE WITH HIM, HEARD OF ALL THE EVIL THAT ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH HAD DONE,

[Jeremiah 41:12] THEN THEY TOOK ALL THE MEN, AND WENT TO FIGHT WITH ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH, AND FOUND HIM BY THE GREAT WATERS THAT ARE IN GIBEON.

[Jeremiah 41:13] NOW IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE WHICH WERE WITH ISHMAEL SAW JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH, AND ALL THE CAPTAINS OF THE FORCES THAT WERE WITH HIM, THEN THEY WERE GLAD.

[Jeremiah 41:14] SO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ISHMAEL HAD CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE FROM MIZPAH CAST BOUT AND RETURNED, AND WENT UNTO JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH.

[Jeremiah 41:15] BUT ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH ESCAPED FROM JOHANAN WITH EIGHT MEN, AND WENT TO THE AMMONITES.

[Jeremiah 41:16] THEN TOOK JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH, AND ALL THE CAPTAINS OF THE FORCES THAT WERE WITH HIM, ALL THE REMNANT OF THE PEOPLE WHOM HE HAD RECOVERED FROM ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH, FROM MIZPAH, AFTER THAT HE HAD SLAIN GEDALIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM, EVEN MIGHTY MEN OF WAR, AND THE WOMEN, AND THE CHILDREN, AND THE EUNUCHS, WHOM HE HAD BROUGHT AGAIN FROM GIBEON:

[Jeremiah 41:17] AND THEY DEPARTED, AND DWELT IN THE HABITATION OF CHIMHAM, WHICH IS BY BETHLEHEM, TO GO TO ENTER INTO EGYPT,

[Jeremiah 41:18] BECAUSE OF THE CHALDEANS: FOR THEY WERE AFRAID OF THEM, BECAUSE ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH HAD SLAIN GEDALIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM, WHOM THE KING OF BABYLON MADE GOVERNOR IN THE LAND.


Jeremiah 42
[Jeremiah 42:1] THEN ALL THE CAPTAINS OF THE FORCES, AND JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH, AND JEZANIAH THE SON OF HOSHAIAH, AND ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE LEAST EVEN UNTO THE GREATEST, CAME NEAR,

[Jeremiah 42:2] AND SAID UNTO JEREMIAH THE PROPHET, LET, WE BESEECH THEE, OUR SUPPLICATION BE ACCEPTED BEFORE THEE, AND PRAY FOR US UNTO THE LORD THY GOD, EVEN FOR ALL THIS REMNANT; (FOR WE ARE LEFT BUT A FEW OF MANY, AS THINE EYES DO BEHOLD US:)

[Jeremiah 42:3] THAT THE LORD THY GOD MAY SHEW US THE WAY WHEREIN WE MAY WALK, AND THE THING THAT WE MAY DO.

[Jeremiah 42:4] THEN JEREMIAH THE PROPHET SAID UNTO THEM, I HAVE HEARD YOU; BEHOLD, I WILL PRAY UNTO THE LORD YOUR GOD ACCORDING TO YOUR WORDS; AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT WHATSOEVER THING THE LORD SHALL ANSWER YOU, I WILL DECLARE IT UNTO YOU; I WILL KEEP NOTHING BACK FROM YOU.

[Jeremiah 42:5] THEN THEY SAID TO JEREMIAH, THE LORD BE A TRUE AND FAITHFUL WITNESS BETWEEN US, IF WE DO NOT EVEN ACCORDING TO ALL THINGS FOR THE WHICH THE LORD THY GOD SHALL SEND THEE TO US.

[Jeremiah 42:6] WHETHER IT BE GOOD, OR WHETHER IT BE EVIL, WE WILL OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD OUR GOD, TO WHOM WE SEND THEE; THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH US, WHEN WE OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD OUR GOD.

[Jeremiah 42:7] AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER TEN DAYS, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO JEREMIAH.

[Jeremiah 42:8] THEN CALLED HE JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH, AND ALL THE CAPTAINS OF THE FORCES WHICH WERE WITH HIM, AND ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE LEAST EVEN TO THE GREATEST,

[Jeremiah 42:9] AND SAID UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, UNTO WHOM YE SENT ME TO PRESENT YOUR SUPPLICATION BEFORE HIM;

[Jeremiah 42:10] IF YE WILL STILL ABIDE IN THIS LAND, THEN WILL I BUILD YOU, AND NOT PULL YOU DOWN, AND I WILL PLANT YOU, AND NOT PLUCK YOU UP: FOR I REPENT ME OF THE EVIL THAT I HAVE DONE UNTO YOU.

[Jeremiah 42:11] BE NOT AFRAID OF THE KING OF BABYLON, OF WHOM YE ARE AFRAID; BE NOT AFRAID OF HIM, SAITH THE LORD: FOR I AM WITH YOU TO SAVE YOU, AND TO DELIVER YOU FROM HIS HAND.
The King of Babylon had cruelly slain and defiled many from Judah and exiled nearly all the rest to Babylon. He had set up Gedaliah to take care of what was left. Gedaliah had encouraged refugees and surviving soldiers (such as Johanan was) to come back and help rebuild what was possible. They had been afraid but had returned since Gedaliah had promised them protection. Now Gedaliah had been killed, there was no-one to protect them and the King of Babylon was liable to take revenge on all of them for the death of Gedaliah.

[Jeremiah 42:12] AND I WILL SHEW MERCIES UNTO YOU, THAT HE MAY HAVE MERCY UPON YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO RETURN TO YOUR OWN LAND.

[Jeremiah 42:13] BUT IF YE SAY, WE WILL NOT DWELL IN THIS LAND, NEITHER OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD,

[Jeremiah 42:14] SAYING, NO; BUT WE WILL GO INTO THE LAND OF EGYPT, WHERE WE SHALL SEE NO WAR, NOR HEAR THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET, NOR HAVE HUNGER OF BREAD; AND THERE WILL WE DWELL:

[Jeremiah 42:15] AND NOW THEREFORE HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, YE REMNANT OF JUDAH; THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; IF YE WHOLLY SET YOUR FACES TO ENTER INTO EGYPT, AND GO TO SOJOURN THERE;

[Jeremiah 42:16] THEN IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT THE SWORD, WHICH YE FEARED, SHALL OVERTAKE YOU THERE IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND THE FAMINE, WHEREOF YE WERE AFRAID, SHALL FOLLOW CLOSE AFTER YOU THERE IN EGYPT; AND THERE YE SHALL DIE.

[Jeremiah 42:17] SO SHALL IT BE WITH ALL THE MEN THAT SET THEIR FACES TO GO INTO EGYPT TO SOJOURN THERE; THEY SHALL DIE BY THE SWORD, BY THE FAMINE, AND BY THE PESTILENCE: AND NONE OF THEM SHALL REMAIN OR ESCAPE FROM THE EVIL THAT I WILL BRING UPON THEM.

[Jeremiah 42:18] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; AS MINE ANGER AND MY FURY HATH BEEN POURED FORTH UPON THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM; SO SHALL MY FURY BE POURED FORTH UPON YOU, WHEN YE SHALL ENTER INTO EGYPT: AND YE SHALL BE AN EXECRATION, AND A ASTONISHMENT, AND A CURSE, AND A REPROACH; AND YE SHALL SEE THIS PLACE NO MORE.

[Jeremiah 42:19] THE LORD HATH SAID CONCERNING YOU, O YE REMNANT OF JUDAH; GO YE NOT INTO EGYPT: KNOW CERTAINLY THAT I HAVE ADMONISHED YOU THIS DAY.

[Jeremiah 42:20] FOR YE DISSEMBLED IN YOUR HEARTS, WHEN YE SENT ME UNTO THE LORD YOUR GOD, SAYING, PRAY FOR US UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD; AND ACCORDING UNTO ALL THAT THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL SAY, SO DECLARE UNTO US, AND WE WILL DO IT.

[Jeremiah 42:21] AND NOW I HAVE THIS DAY DECLARED IT TO YOU; BUT YE HAVE NOT OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, NOR ANY THING FOR THE WHICH HE HATH SENT ME UNTO YOU.

[Jeremiah 42:22] NOW THEREFORE KNOW CERTAINLY THAT YE SHALL DIE BY THE SWORD, BY THE FAMINE, AND BY THE PESTILENCE, IN THE PLACE WHITHER YE DESIRE TO GO AND TO SOJOURN.

Jeremiah 43
[Jeremiah 43:1] AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHEN JEREMIAH HAD MADE AN END OF SPEAKING UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE WORDS OF THE LORD THEIR GOD, FOR WHICH THE LORD THEIR GOD HAD SENT HIM TO THEM, EVEN ALL THESE WORDS,

[Jeremiah 43:2] THEN SPAKE AZARIAH THE SON OF HOSHAIAH, AND JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH, AND ALL THE PROUD MEN, SAYING UNTO JEREMIAH, THOU SPEAKEST FALSELY: THE LORD OUR GOD HATH NOT SENT THEE TO SAY, GO NOT INTO EGYPT TO SOJOURN THERE:

[Jeremiah 43:3] BUT BARUCH THE SON OF NERIAH SETTETH THEE ON AGAINST US, FOR TO DELIVER US INTO THE HAND OF THE CHALDEANS, THAT THEY MIGHT PUT US TO DEATH, AND CARRY US AWAY CAPTIVES INTO BABYLON.
We see from this that Baruch was an important person in his own right and in the eyes of some he was the instigator of Jeremiah.

[Jeremiah 43:4] SO JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH, AND ALL THE CAPTAINS OF THE FORCES, AND ALL THE PEOPLE, OBEYED NOT THE VOICE OF THE LORD, TO DWELL IN THE LAND OF JUDAH.

[Jeremiah 43:5] 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;

[Jeremiah 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.

[Jeremiah 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" was also known as Daphne. There were many places called Daphne in the Ancient world. It is interesting that several of the places named Daphne were significant in the history of the lost ten Tribes. Dan in Northern Galilee in Israel according to Josephus was also known as Daphne. From Tahpanhes (Daphne) in Egypt according to Irish legend Jeremiah, or Baruch the assistant of Jeremiah, sailed to Ireland accompanied by one of the daughters of King Zedekiah. The daughter was named Tea Tephi and she married the son of the Irish King. From this union descended the monarchs of Scotland and ultimately of Britain. Several (some say all or at least most) Presidents of the USA also trace themselves back to Tea Tephi and through her to King David. I also saw a claim that agents of the British Royal House in the time of Queen Victoria spent a million pounds sterling (a large sum in those days and not a small amount even today) in researching the subject of Tea Tephi and promoting interest in it. The investment may well have been justified but I personally am skeptical. We are not sure about Tea Tephi though the notion bears a fascination for a large number of people. Nevertheless we do believe that the monarchs of Britain and other houses of Europe as well as quite a few other families are descended, in other ways, from King David. We explain this in our book "Ephraim".

[Jeremiah 43:8] THEN CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO JEREMIAH IN TAHPANHES, SAYING,

[Jeremiah 43:9] TAKE GREAT STONES IN THINE HAND, AND HIDE THEM IN THE CLAY IN THE BRICKKILN, WHICH IS AT THE ENTRY OF PHARAOH'S HOUSE IN TAHPANHES, IN THE SIGHT OF THE MEN OF JUDAH;

[Jeremiah 43:10] AND SAY UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; BEHOLD, I WILL SEND AND TAKE NEBUCHADREZZAR THE KING OF BABYLON, MY SERVANT, AND WILL SET HIS THRONE UPON THESE STONES THAT I HAVE HID; AND HE SHALL SPREAD HIS ROYAL PAVILION OVER THEM.

[Jeremiah 43:11] AND WHEN HE COMETH, HE SHALL SMITE THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND DELIVER SUCH AS ARE FOR DEATH TO DEATH; AND SUCH AS ARE FOR CAPTIVITY TO CAPTIVITY; AND SUCH AS ARE FOR THE SWORD TO THE SWORD.

[Jeremiah 43:12] AND I WILL KINDLE A FIRE IN THE HOUSES OF THE GODS OF EGYPT; AND HE SHALL BURN THEM, AND CARRY THEM AWAY CAPTIVES: AND HE SHALL ARRAY HIMSELF WITH THE LAND OF EGYPT, AS A SHEPHERD PUTTETH ON HIS GARMENT; AND HE SHALL GO FORTH FROM THENCE IN PEACE.

[Jeremiah 43:13] HE SHALL BREAK ALSO THE IMAGES OF BETHSHEMESH, THAT IS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT; AND THE HOUSES OF THE GODS OF THE EGYPTIANS SHALL HE BURN WITH FIRE.
"BETHSHEMESH, THAT IS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT": "BETH-SHEMESH" means in Hebrew: "House of the Sun". It was also known as "On". It has been identified with Heliopolis and was located in one of the suburbs of present-day Cairo in Egypt.

Jeremiah 44
[Jeremiah 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,
NOPH was also known as "Moph" and as Memphis.
Pathros was in Upper Egypt, in the south. There was a colony from Judah at Yob (Elephantine) opposite Aswan. They served the Egyptians as mercenaries and worshipped both the God of Israel as well as pagan idols. They also had some connection to the Northern Israelites and to the Samaritans.
Some of the Jews of Ethiopia may derive from this settlement. At all events the Jews who followed to Egypt scattered throughout the land.

[Jeremiah 44:2] 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,

[Jeremiah 44:3] BECAUSE OF THEIR WICKEDNESS WHICH THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO PROVOKE ME TO ANGER, IN THAT THEY WENT TO BURN INCENSE, AND TO SERVE OTHER GODS, WHOM THEY KNEW NOT, NEITHER THEY, YE, NOR YOUR FATHERS.

[Jeremiah 44:4] HOWBEIT I SENT UNTO YOU ALL MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS, RISING EARLY AND SENDING THEM, SAYING, OH, DO NOT THIS ABOMINABLE THING THAT I HATE.

[Jeremiah 44:5] BUT THEY HEARKENED NOT, NOR INCLINED THEIR EAR TO TURN FROM THEIR WICKEDNESS, TO BURN NO INCENSE UNTO OTHER GODS.

[Jeremiah 44:6] WHEREFORE MY FURY AND MINE ANGER WAS POURED FORTH, AND WAS KINDLED IN THE CITIES OF JUDAH AND IN THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM; AND THEY ARE WASTED AND DESOLATE, AS AT THIS DAY.

[Jeremiah 44:7] THEREFORE NOW THUS SAITH THE LORD, THE GOD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; WHEREFORE COMMIT YE THIS GREAT EVIL AGAINST YOUR SOULS, TO CUT OFF FROM YOU MAN AND WOMAN, CHILD AND SUCKLING, OUT OF JUDAH, TO LEAVE YOU NONE TO REMAIN;

[Jeremiah 44:8] IN THAT YE PROVOKE ME UNTO WRATH WITH THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS, BURNING INCENSE UNTO OTHER GODS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, WHITHER YE BE GONE TO DWELL, THAT YE MIGHT CUT YOURSELVES OFF, AND THAT YE MIGHT BE A CURSE AND A REPROACH AMONG ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH.

[Jeremiah 44:9] HAVE YE FORGOTTEN THE WICKEDNESS OF YOUR FATHERS, AND THE WICKEDNESS OF THE KINGS OF JUDAH, AND THE WICKEDNESS OF THEIR WIVES, AND YOUR OWN WICKEDNESS, AND THE WICKEDNESS OF YOUR WIVES, WHICH THEY HAVE COMMITTED IN THE LAND OF JUDAH, AND IN THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM.

[Jeremiah 44:10] THEY ARE NOT HUMBLED EVEN UNTO THIS DAY, NEITHER HAVE THEY FEARED, NOR WALKED IN MY LAW, NOR IN MY STATUTES, THAT I SET BEFORE YOU AND BEFORE YOUR FATHERS.

[Jeremiah 44:11] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; BEHOLD, I WILL SET MY FACE AGAINST YOU FOR EVIL, AND TO CUT OFF ALL JUDAH.

[Jeremiah 44:12] AND I WILL TAKE THE REMNANT OF JUDAH, THAT HAVE SET THEIR FACES TO GO INTO THE LAND OF EGYPT TO SOJOURN THERE, AND THEY SHALL ALL BE CONSUMED, AND FALL IN THE LAND OF EGYPT; THEY SHALL EVEN BE CONSUMED BY THE SWORD AND BY THE FAMINE: THEY SHALL DIE, FROM THE LEAST EVEN UNTO THE GREATEST, BY THE SWORD AND BY THE FAMINE: AND THEY SHALL BE AN EXECRATION, AND AN ASTONISHMENT, AND A CURSE, AND A REPROACH.

[Jeremiah 44:13] FOR I WILL PUNISH THEM THAT DWELL IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, AS I HAVE PUNISHED JERUSALEM, BY THE SWORD, BY THE FAMINE, AND BY THE PESTILENCE:

[Jeremiah 44:14] SO THAT NONE OF THE REMNANT OF JUDAH, WHICH ARE GONE INTO THE LAND OF EGYPT TO SOJOURN THERE, SHALL ESCAPE OR REMAIN, THAT THEY SHOULD RETURN INTO THE LAND OF JUDAH, TO THE WHICH THEY HAVE A DESIRE TO RETURN TO DWELL THERE: FOR NONE SHALL RETURN BUT SUCH AS SHALL ESCAPE.

[Jeremiah 44:15] THEN ALL THE MEN WHICH KNEW THAT THEIR WIVES HAD BURNED INCENSE UNTO OTHER GODS, AND ALL THE WOMEN THAT STOOD BY, A GREAT MULTITUDE, EVEN ALL THE PEOPLE THAT DWELT IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, IN PATHROS, ANSWERED JEREMIAH, SAYING,

[Jeremiah 44:16] AS FOR THE WORD THAT THOU HAST SPOKEN UNTO US IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO THEE.

[Jeremiah 44:17] BUT WE WILL CERTAINLY DO WHATSOEVER THING GOETH FORTH OUT OF OUR OWN MOUTH, TO BURN INCENSE UNTO THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, AND TO POUR OUT DRINK OFFERINGS UNTO HER, AS WE HAVE DONE, WE, AND OUR FATHERS, OUR KINGS, AND OUR PRINCES, IN THE CITIES OF JUDAH, AND IN THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM: FOR THEN HAD WE PLENTY OF VICTUALS, AND WERE WELL, AND SAW NO EVIL.
"THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN": The Roman Catholics refer to Mary by this title and they pray to her. In some place she is the major object of worship.

[Jeremiah 44:18] BUT SINCE WE LEFT OFF TO BURN INCENSE TO THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, AND TO POUR OUT DRINK OFFERINGS UNTO HER, WE HAVE WANTED ALL THINGS, AND HAVE BEEN CONSUMED BY THE SWORD AND BY THE FAMINE.

[Jeremiah 44:19] AND WHEN WE BURNED INCENSE TO THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, AND POURED OUT DRINK OFFERINGS UNTO HER, DID WE MAKE HER CAKES TO WORSHIP HER, AND POUR OUT DRINK OFFERINGS UNTO HER, WITHOUT OUR MEN.

[Jeremiah 44:20] THEN JEREMIAH SAID UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE, TO THE MEN, AND TO THE WOMEN, AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHICH HAD GIVEN HIM THAT ANSWER, SAYING,

[Jeremiah 44:21] THE INCENSE THAT YE BURNED IN THE CITIES OF JUDAH, AND IN THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM, YE, AND YOUR FATHERS, YOUR KINGS, AND YOUR PRINCES, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND, DID NOT THE LORD REMEMBER THEM, AND CAME IT NOT INTO HIS MIND.

[Jeremiah 44:22] SO THAT THE LORD COULD NO LONGER BEAR, BECAUSE OF THE EVIL OF YOUR DOINGS, AND BECAUSE OF THE ABOMINATIONS WHICH YE HAVE COMMITTED; THEREFORE IS YOUR LAND DESOLATION, AND ASTONISHMENT, AND A CURSE, WITHOUT AN INHABITANT, AS AT THIS DAY.
Because they had worshipped idols their land had been destroyed and they were exiled or forced to flee.

[Jeremiah 44:23] BECAUSE YE HAVE BURNED INCENSE, AND BECAUSE YE HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD, AND HAVE NOT OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD, NOR WALKED IN HIS LAW, NOR IN HIS STATUTES, NOR IN HIS TESTIMONIES; THEREFORE THIS EVIL IS HAPPENED UNTO YOU, AS AT THIS DAY.
They were punished for not keeping the Law.

[Jeremiah 44:24] MOREOVER JEREMIAH SAID UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE, AND TO ALL THE WOMEN, HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, ALL JUDAH THAT ARE IN THE LAND OF EGYPT:

[Jeremiah 44:25] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, SAYING; YE AND YOUR WIVES HAVE BOTH SPOKEN WITH YOUR MOUTHS, AND FULFILLED WITH YOUR HAND, SAYING, WE WILL SURELY PERFORM OUR VOWS THAT WE HAVE VOWED, TO BURN INCENSE TO THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, AND TO POUR OUT DRINK OFFERINGS UNTO HER: YE WILL SURELY ACCOMPLISH YOUR VOWS, AND SURELY PERFORM YOUR VOWS.
It is implied here that the husbands bear some responsibility for the deeds of their wives. This is natural and logic but easier said than done.

[Jeremiah 44:26] THEREFORE HEAR YE THE WORD OF THE LORD, ALL JUDAH THAT DWELL IN THE LAND OF EGYPT; BEHOLD, I HAVE SWORN BY MY GREAT NAME, SAITH THE LORD, THAT MY NAME SHALL NO MORE BE NAMED IN THE MOUTH OF ANY MAN OF JUDAH IN ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT, SAYING, THE LORD GOD LIVETH.

[Jeremiah 44:27] BEHOLD, I WILL WATCH OVER THEM FOR EVIL, AND NOT FOR GOOD: AND ALL THE MEN OF JUDAH THAT ARE IN THE LAND OF EGYPT SHALL BE CONSUMED BY THE SWORD AND BY THE FAMINE, UNTIL THERE BE AN END OF THEM.

[Jeremiah 44:28] YET A SMALL NUMBER THAT ESCAPE THE SWORD SHALL RETURN OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT INTO THE LAND OF JUDAH, AND ALL THE REMNANT OF JUDAH, THAT ARE GONE INTO THE LAND OF EGYPT TO SOJOURN THERE, SHALL KNOW WHOSE WORDS SHALL STAND, MINE, OR THEIR'S.

[Jeremiah 44:29] AND THIS SHALL BE A SIGN UNTO YOU, SAITH THE LORD, THAT I WILL PUNISH YOU IN THIS PLACE, THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT MY WORDS SHALL SURELY STAND AGAINST YOU FOR EVIL:

[Jeremiah 44:30] THUS SAITH THE LORD; BEHOLD, I WILL GIVE PHARAOH HOPHRA KING OF EGYPT INTO THE HAND OF HIS ENEMIES, AND INTO THE HAND OF THEM THAT SEEK HIS LIFE; AS I GAVE ZEDEKIAH KING OF JUDAH INTO THE HAND OF NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON, HIS ENEMY, AND THAT SOUGHT HIS LIFE.

Jeremiah chs. 37 to 40

Jeremiah chs. 45 to 48

See also:
Biblical Proofs
http://www.britam.org/Proof/ProofsIntro.html
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