John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 43:1-3

"And it came to pass that, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of Jehovah their God, wherewith Jehovah their God had sent him to them, even all these words, then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: Jehovah our God hath not sent thee to say, Ye shall not go into Egypt to sojourn there; but Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death, and carry us away captive to Babylon." — Jeremiah 43:1-3 (ASV)

Here the Prophet continues with the remaining part of the narrative. He says that the whole people obstinately persevered in their wicked design, so that he accomplished nothing by his warning and protest. This stupidity of the people was monstrous, for they had discovered by experience the Prophet's faithfulness for many years. Furthermore, they had gone to him because they believed that he was a faithful and an approved servant of God.

He had not merely answered them in God’s name, but, knowing their stubbornness, he added solemn declarations which might have moved even stones. But he addressed the deaf, and from this it appears that they were utterly bewitched by the devil. And so, let us learn not to mock God, nor to bring a divided heart when we inquire about His will, but to submit to be ruled by His word.

Now he says that when he had finished speaking to the whole people, as God had commanded, then John the son of Kareah, and Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, being the first among them, spoke against him. Regarding Azariah, we cannot know with any certainty who he was. But we have here in John the son of Kareah a noteworthy example.

We have seen that he was a bold, wise, and prudent man, and also of an upright character. In short, when we consider what the Prophet has previously said of him, we cannot help but think he was by nature a heroic man. Indeed, when he is compared with Gedaliah, who at the same time was an excellent man and whom the Prophet has praised highly, John nevertheless far excelled him.

Gedaliah, indeed, had a kind nature; he was courageous in protecting the people and a man of integrity. Besides, he was a father to the people and conducted himself in such a way when things were in a hopeless state that, beyond everyone's expectation, he gathered together the remnant of the people. We have also seen that by his efforts the Prophet had been saved from immediate death.

But John the son of Kareah had been a remarkable helper to him, having come to him of his own free will and offered him his assistance. Furthermore, he faithfully and prudently warned him to beware of the treachery of that unscrupulous man, by whom Gedaliah was afterwards killed.

Gedaliah fell through excessive trustfulness. John, then, the son of Kareah, had a greater appearance of excellence than Gedaliah had exhibited. But what does the Spirit of God now declare concerning him and his associates? They are said to have been proud and obstinate. Thus we see that some men excel in greatness of mind, yet have a rebellious nature; and this is usually the case during unsettled times.

For some show themselves to be wonderfully courageous; but when things do not go according to their wishes, they become ferocious and rebel against God and men. Besides, they will never endure submission. Such, then, was John the son of Kareah: at one time he manifested extraordinary virtue, but finally his true nature was revealed.

The Prophet, with the authority of a judge, declares that he and his associates were proud: Then Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and John the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, said, A falsehood do you speak. This was extremely insolent and reproachful, for they had recently testified that they regarded Jeremiah as God’s faithful servant and that they would receive whatever he might bring as God’s true oracle. But now they charge him with falsehood! How great was this presumption! From this it appears how deep and various, and how devious are the hidden places in human hearts; for at one time they announce honeyed words, and afterwards they utter nothing but malice. So from the same mouth, as it were, almost in the same moment, comes forth what is sweet and what is bitter.

From this let us learn that the human heart is full of every kind of deceit until it is cleansed by the Spirit of God. We also see, when once ungodliness boils up, to what extremes it will proceed; for these men were not only insolent and reproachful towards Jeremiah, but also towards God Himself. And they did not now use evasions as before, nor did they raise objections; but they openly raged against the Prophet. Thus hypocrisy indeed has its disguises for a time, but when the ungodly are pressed by God, then they know no limits: You speak what is false.

They afterwards cast the blame on Baruch, who had been the Prophet’s faithful servant. As they could not find any reason why Jeremiah should speak falsely, they turned their fury against Baruch. They did not then spare Jeremiah out of respect for him, but as they had no reason whatever to speak evil of him, they fixed the blame on Baruch, who nevertheless was as innocent as Jeremiah.

Baruch, they said, excites you against us. Even if Jeremiah had prophesied this way through the influence of another, his crime might have at least been mitigated. Now they said that he was deceitful and brought forth nothing but deceptions; but the ungodly do not care what they say, for the devil drives them headlong.

And they charged Baruch with a very great crime: that he wished to betray them to the Chaldeans, then to expose them to be slaughtered, and to hand them over to be driven into exile. All this would have been the greatest cruelty. But if we then consider what kind of man Baruch had been, how innocently he had conducted himself, and how he had endangered his life in defending the true worship of God and prophetic doctrine, there was surely no reason for heaping such reproach upon him.

But we see that God’s servants have always been exposed to extreme reproaches, even when they have exhibited the greatest integrity. If then, today, we hear evil reports after having labored to act uprightly, it should not seem a hard or new thing to us to bear them with patience. We must, indeed, do what we can to stop the mouths of the malicious and the wicked; nor ought we to give opportunity, as Paul admonishes us, to the malicious. But when we have done our duty faithfully, if dogs still bark at us, if we are burdened with many accusations and alleged crimes, let us learn patiently to endure them. This, then, is what we ought to do, since we see that Baruch was accused of extreme treachery and cruelty.

What, then, did Baruch have to do with the Chaldeans? Had he fled to them? Was he anxious to gain influence for himself or to procure favor for himself? There was no such thing; he always followed Jeremiah wherever he went. Jeremiah had indeed obtained some favor, but this was to be attributed to the undeserved kindness of God.

Baruch, then, had received permission from the Chaldeans to remain with the Prophet, for the condition of both was the same. Yet he had not followed the Chaldeans when the option was given to him. For when the Chaldeans offered safety and rest to Jeremiah, Baruch might also have gone to that fertile country; but he chose to remain in the land.

Thus we see that he had removed every suspicion from himself, and yet he could not stop the mouths of the malicious, but they slandered and calumniated him. Let us then know that God’s servants prove their firmness and steadfastness when they are attacked on every side by the calumnies of men, and yet are satisfied with the testimony of their own conscience, continue on their path, look forward to the judgment of God, and do not care what people think or say, as long as God approves of them and is their judge in heaven.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that since we see what you formerly threatened to all the despisers of your word, we may learn to submit to be ruled by you, and so surrender all our powers and faculties to your will, that we may receive immediately without any dispute whatever you command, and so prove our sincerity, that our deeds may correspond with our words, and that our life may show that we do not falsely profess your holy name, but declare what we have in our minds and what you yourself know, until the last day will finally appear, when the books shall be opened, and all the thoughts of men shall be revealed, so that we may then appear upright in your sight, through Christ our Lord. Amen.