Jeremiah Returns to Egypt and Preaches to Exiles There

Legends of the Jews turns to Jeremiah Returns to Egypt and Preaches to Exiles There.

Well, according to some fascinating stories preserved in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, the story doesn't end with the exile itself. It seems Jeremiah's work was far from over.

Baruch, Jeremiah's faithful scribe, is off in Babylonia. How do you get a message to him in those days? Forget carrier pigeons; The legend says an eagle carried Jeremiah's answer to Baruch!

Then there’s the matter of those Babylonian women. Jeremiah, it seems, had some pretty strong opinions on the matter. When he returned to Jerusalem with the people, those who refused to part ways with their "heathen" wives were in a tough spot. They weren't allowed into the holy city, and they weren't allowed back to Babylonia. So, what did they do? They founded their own city, Samaria, right near Jerusalem.

But the most intriguing part of the story, at least for me, is the secret mission God entrusted to Jeremiah. It wasn't just about the people; it was about safeguarding the sacred objects of the Temple. We're talking about the Aron HaKodesh (the Holy Ark), the altar of incense, and the holy tent – objects of immense spiritual power.

An angel, no less, supposedly carried these treasures to the very mountain where Moses, before his death, had gazed upon the promised land. Jeremiah found a hidden place, a machaneh (camp or storage) if you will, and concealed them within.

Now, this is where it gets really interesting. Some of Jeremiah's companions, curious and perhaps a bit skeptical, followed him to try and mark the way back to the cave. But they couldn't find it again! When Jeremiah found out what they’d tried to do, he rebuked them. Why? Because God wanted the hiding place to remain a secret until the time of redemption. Only then, the legend says, will God Himself reveal these hidden things.

It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? What does it mean for something to be hidden until the time is. Is it just about physical objects, or is it about ideas, truths, or even potential within ourselves that needs to be nurtured and protected until the moment we're ready to unveil it to the world? Maybe the real treasure isn't the Ark itself, but the faith that it will be revealed when it's needed most.

The eagle brought Jeremiah's answer to Baruch, and after the prophet had sent the Babylonian women away, he returned to Jerusalem with the people. Those who would not submit to the orders of Jeremiah relative to the heathen women, were not permitted by the prophet to enter the holy city, and as they likewise were not permitted to return to Babylonia, they founded the city of Samaria near Jerusalem.

The task laid upon Jeremiah had been twofold. Besides giving him charge over the people in the land of their exile, God had entrusted to him the care of the sanctuary and all it contained. The holy Ark, the altar of incense, and the holy tent were carried by an angel to the mount whence Moses before his death had viewed the land divinely assigned to Israel. There Jeremiah found a spacious place, in which he concealed these sacred utensils. Some of his companions had gone with him to note the way to the cave, but yet they could not find it. When Jeremiah heard of their purpose, he censured them, for it was the wish of God that the place of hiding should remain a secret until the redemption, and then God Himself will make the hidden things visible.