◄ Jeremiah 44:30 ►
This is what the LORD says: Behold, I will deliver Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who seek his life, just as I delivered Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who was seeking his life."
Study Bible
This is what the LORD says:
This phrase introduces a divine pronouncement, emphasizing the authority and certainty of the message. In the prophetic tradition, such declarations underscore that the message is not from the prophet's own mind but directly from God. This establishes the seriousness and reliability of the prophecy.

Behold, I will deliver Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who seek his life:
Pharaoh Hophra, also known as Apries, ruled Egypt during a tumultuous period. Historically, he faced internal strife and external threats, which eventually led to his downfall. This prophecy highlights God's sovereignty over nations, demonstrating that even powerful rulers are subject to His will. The mention of delivering Hophra into the hands of his enemies parallels the fate of other leaders who opposed God's plans, showing a pattern of divine justice.

just as I delivered Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,
Zedekiah was the last king of Judah, and his reign ended with the Babylonian conquest. This comparison serves as a reminder of the fulfillment of past prophecies, reinforcing the certainty of Hophra's fate. The historical context of Zedekiah's capture and the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC is a pivotal moment in Jewish history, illustrating the consequences of disobedience to God.

the enemy who was seeking his life:
Both Hophra and Zedekiah faced adversaries who were determined to overthrow them. This phrase underscores the inevitability of God's judgment against those who oppose His will. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of divine retribution and the futility of resisting God's plans. The mention of enemies seeking their lives highlights the personal nature of these conflicts and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

2. Pharaoh Hophra
The king of Egypt during the time of Jeremiah, known for his alliance with Judah against Babylon.

3. Zedekiah
The last king of Judah, who was captured by Nebuchadnezzar and witnessed the fall of Jerusalem.

4. Nebuchadnezzar
The king of Babylon, who conquered Jerusalem and took many Jews into exile.

5. Egypt
A nation often seen as a place of refuge for the Israelites, yet also a symbol of reliance on worldly powers instead of God.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Nations
God is in control of all nations and their leaders. His plans will prevail regardless of human alliances or strategies.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Just as Zedekiah faced consequences for his rebellion against God, so too would Pharaoh Hophra. Disobedience to God leads to downfall.

The Futility of Trusting in Worldly Powers
Reliance on earthly powers, like Egypt, instead of God, leads to disappointment and failure. True security is found in God alone.

Historical Fulfillment of Prophecy
The fulfillment of prophecies, such as the fall of Pharaoh Hophra, serves as a testament to the truth and reliability of God's word.

Lessons for Modern Believers
Believers today are reminded to place their trust in God rather than in political or worldly systems, seeking His guidance in all things.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the prophecy against Pharaoh Hophra demonstrate God's control over world events, and how can this understanding impact our view of current global affairs?

2. In what ways does the account of Zedekiah serve as a warning for those who choose to ignore God's commands?

3. How can we apply the lesson of not relying on worldly powers to our personal lives and decision-making processes?

4. What are some modern-day "Egypts" that people might be tempted to trust in, and how can we guard against this temptation?

5. How does the fulfillment of biblical prophecies strengthen your faith in the reliability of Scripture, and how can you use this to encourage others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 25
Describes the fall of Jerusalem and the capture of Zedekiah, providing historical context for Jeremiah's prophecy.

Ezekiel 29
Contains prophecies against Egypt, similar to Jeremiah's message, emphasizing God's sovereignty over nations.

Isaiah 31
Warns against relying on Egypt for help, highlighting the futility of trusting in human power over divine guidance.
Sermons
Jeremiah's Last SermonS. Conway Jeremiah 44:1-30
The End of Jeremiah; Or, Going Down in CloudsS. Conway Jeremiah 44:1-30
People
Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, Zedekiah
Places
Babylon, Egypt, Jerusalem, Memphis, Migdol, Pathros, Tahpanhes
Topics
Babylon, Behold, Egypt, Enemies, Enemy, Handed, Hophra, Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, Says, Seek, Seeking, Thus, Zedekiah
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 44:25-30

     8807   profanity

Jeremiah 44:29-30

     1449   signs, purposes

Library
God's Patient Pleadings
'I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.'--JER. xliv. 4. The long death-agony of the Jewish kingdom has come to an end. The frivolous levity, which fed itself on illusions and would not be sobered by facts, has been finally crushed out of the wretched people. The dreary succession of incompetent kings--now a puppet set up by Egypt, now another puppet set up by Babylon, has ended with the weak Zedekiah. The …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Man's Misery by the Fall
Q-19: WHAT IS THE MISERY OF THAT ESTATE WHEREINTO MAN FELL? A: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. 'And were by nature children of wrath.' Eph 2:2. Adam left an unhappy portion to his posterity, Sin and Misery. Having considered the first of these, original sin, we shall now advert to the misery of that state. In the first, we have seen mankind offending; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History.
1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been taken five [34] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

Man's Inability to Keep the Moral Law
Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but does daily break them, in thought, word, and deed. In many things we offend all.' James 3: 2. Man in his primitive state of innocence, was endowed with ability to keep the whole moral law. He had rectitude of mind, sanctity of will, and perfection of power. He had the copy of God's law written on his heart; no sooner did God command but he obeyed. …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Mercy of God
The next attribute is God's goodness or mercy. Mercy is the result and effect of God's goodness. Psa 33:5. So then this is the next attribute, God's goodness or mercy. The most learned of the heathens thought they gave their god Jupiter two golden characters when they styled him good and great. Both these meet in God, goodness and greatness, majesty and mercy. God is essentially good in himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in Psa 119:98. Thou art good, and doest good.' This …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Original Sin
Q-16: DID ALL MANKIND FALL IN ADAM'S FIRST TRANSGRESSION? A: The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him, by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression. 'By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin,' &c. Rom 5:12. Adam being a representative person, while he stood, we stood; when he fell, we fell, We sinned in Adam; so it is in the text, In whom all have sinned.' Adam was the head …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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