Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.
Against Egypt {H4714}, against the army {H2428} of Pharaohnecho {H6549} king {H4428} of Egypt {H4714}, which was by the river {H5104} Euphrates {H6578} in Carchemish {H3751}, which Nebuchadrezzar {H5019} king {H4428} of Babylon {H894} smote {H5221} in the fourth {H7243} year {H8141} of Jehoiakim {H3079} the son {H1121} of Josiah {H2977} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}.
Concerning Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh N'kho, king of Egypt, stationed by the Euphrates River in Kark'mish, which N'vukhadretzar king of Bavel attacked in the fourth year of Y'hoyakim son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y'hudah:
concerning Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah:
Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh-neco king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.
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2 Kings 23:29
In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. -
Ezekiel 29:1
¶ In the tenth year, in the tenth [month], in the twelfth [day] of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, -
Ezekiel 29:21
In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD. -
Jeremiah 46:14
Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee. -
Jeremiah 25:19
Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people; -
Jeremiah 25:1
¶ The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that [was] the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; -
Isaiah 10:9
[Is] not Calno as Carchemish? [is] not Hamath as Arpad? [is] not Samaria as Damascus?
Jeremiah 46:2 serves as a precise historical introduction to Jeremiah's prophetic message against Egypt. It pinpoints a significant geopolitical event that reshaped the ancient Near East and directly impacted the kingdom of Judah.
Context
This verse opens an oracle (prophecy) from the Lord concerning Egypt, specifically detailing the decisive defeat of Pharaoh Necho's army. The pivotal event described is the Battle of Carchemish, which took place in 605 BC at a strategic city located on the river Euphrates. At this time, the Assyrian Empire was waning, and Egypt, under Pharaoh Necho II, sought to expand its influence into the power vacuum. However, they clashed with the rapidly ascending Neo-Babylonian Empire, led by King Nebuchadnezzar. The verse specifies the timing: "in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah," which is a crucial date for understanding the timeline of Jeremiah's prophecies and Judah's eventual subjugation to Babylon.
Key Historical Significance
The Battle of Carchemish was a monumental victory for Nebuchadnezzar, effectively ending Egypt's aspirations for dominance in the Levant and firmly establishing Babylon as the preeminent power in the region. For Judah, this defeat marked a critical shift from Egyptian influence to Babylonian control. This newfound Babylonian supremacy directly led to events like the first deportation to Babylon and ultimately culminated in the complete Babylonian exile. The mention of Jehoiakim's fourth year is particularly significant, as it is also the year Jeremiah delivered his sweeping prophecy of seventy years of desolation under Babylon, demonstrating how divine prophecy was intricately tied to real-world historical events.
Linguistic Insight
The KJV spelling "Pharaohnecho" refers to Pharaoh Necho II, a historically verified Egyptian monarch of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty. Similarly, "Nebuchadrezzar" is an older KJV transliteration of Nebuchadnezzar II, the powerful king of Babylon who played a central role in the history of Judah and is mentioned extensively throughout the prophetic books. The inclusion of these specific, accurate historical names and titles underscores the Bible's grounding in actual history and its precise recording of events.
Reflection and Application
Jeremiah 46:2 powerfully illustrates God's sovereignty over all nations and historical developments. Even seemingly independent and powerful rulers like Pharaoh Necho and Nebuchadnezzar were instruments in God's overarching plan, unknowingly fulfilling His prophetic word. This verse reminds us that God is actively involved in the course of human history, orchestrating geopolitical shifts to achieve His divine purposes, whether through judgment or the eventual restoration of His people. For us today, it offers profound reassurance that amidst the uncertainties and turmoil of world events, God remains firmly in control, guiding all things according to His ultimate will (compare Jeremiah 29:11).