8 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes , saying , 9 "Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance of Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes , in the sight of some of the Jews ; 10 and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts , the God of Israel , "Behold , I am going to send and get Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon , My servant , and I am going to set his throne right over these stones that I have hidden ; and he will spread his canopy over them. 11 "He will also come and strike the land of Egypt ; those who are meant for death will be given over to death , and those for captivity to captivity , and those for the sword to the sword . 12 "And I shall set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt , and he will burn them and take them captive . So he will wrap himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself with his garment , and he will depart from there safely . 13 "He will also shatter the obelisks of Heliopolis , which is in the land of Egypt ; and the temples of the gods of Egypt he will burn with fire .""'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 43:8-13
Commentary on Jeremiah 43:8-13
(Read Jeremiah 43:8-13)
God can find his people wherever they are. The Spirit of prophecy was not confined to the land of Israel. It is foretold that Nebuchadnezzar should destroy and carry into captivity many of the Egyptians. Thus God makes one wicked man, or wicked nation, a scourge and plague to another. He will punish those who deceive his professing people, or tempt them to rebellion.