What is the meaning of Jeremiah 43:3? Rather, Baruch son of Neriah • Baruch was Jeremiah’s faithful scribe and companion (Jeremiah 36:4; 45:1). • The word “Rather” shows the people contradicting Jeremiah’s prophecy from 42:19, choosing to blame Baruch instead of accepting God’s warning. • By naming Baruch, they shift attention away from the Lord’s message and toward a supposed human conspiracy, echoing earlier attempts to discredit prophets (cf. 1 Kings 22:26–28). Is inciting you against us • The remnant accuses Baruch of manipulating Jeremiah, implying the prophet cannot speak for himself—denying Jeremiah 1:9, where God put His words in the prophet’s mouth. • Their charge reveals hearts hardened against divine correction, similar to the response in Jeremiah 18:12. • This defensive posture fulfills what God foresaw: a people who “refuse to listen” (Jeremiah 13:10). To deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans • “Deliver” echoes Jeremiah’s repeated warnings that surrender to Babylon was the only path to life (Jeremiah 21:8–9; 38:17). • The remnant twists that counsel into treachery, refusing to see that God Himself was using the Chaldeans as His instrument (Jeremiah 25:9). • Fear of enemy hands outweighs trust in God’s hands, mirroring earlier disbelief at Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 14:1-4). So that they may put us to death • Though Jeremiah promised survival through obedience (Jeremiah 42:10–12), the people imagine slaughter. • Their dread reflects Judah’s history of expecting the worst when faithless (Leviticus 26:36-37). • Ironically, by fleeing to Egypt—against God’s command—they invite the very sword they fear (Jeremiah 42:15-17). Or exile us to Babylon! • Exile was God’s declared discipline (Jeremiah 29:10); He meant it for their future hope. • The remnant treats exile as doom, ignoring earlier promises of return and restoration (Jeremiah 24:6; 32:37). • Rejecting exile in faith, they choose self-reliance in Egypt, repeating Israel’s perpetual temptation to lean on that nation (Isaiah 30:1-3). summary The survivors in Judah, unwilling to accept God’s clear command to remain and trust Him, accuse Baruch of conspiring with Jeremiah to betray them to Babylon. Their words expose distrust of God, misinterpret His protective discipline as harm, and foreshadow the judgment they will face in Egypt. Jeremiah 43:3 thus highlights the danger of rejecting God’s message, blaming His servants, and letting fear override obedient faith. |
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