Prophet Jeremiah had received word from the Lord that the nation of Israel would go into exile in Assyria. The time came for that disaster and many were taken by force to serve the king of Babylon, while some were killed. The word was for the Northern kingdom in Samaria since the land of Judah was still free from attack. A word from the prophet in this verse shows that the Jews had little hope, if care is not taken, none. Mentioning the calamity that would befall Egypt and Memphis was a powerful sign. When the kingdom fell to Babylon, a few remaining men and women ran away to Egypt, forcefully taking Jeremiah with them.
It was at this time that the prophet said the words read in this verse. He was shown care and love by the invading armies probably because he said that Babylon would destroy Jerusalem. The soldiers let him choose where he would live and he decided to live in Mizpah with Gedaliah, the governor. Gedaliah was killed and another man became governor in his place, telling the people, including Jeremiah that they should run away to Egypt. The land was an ancient civilization which wielded much power and some interactions with Israel since they share a common border. Formerly, the Jews spent about 400 years in slavery in Egypt but that was long ago.
The small band of natives saw no trouble going in that direction. It was in Egypt that he prophesied doom to the country and its boisterous city of Memphis. Their time would come and Memphis would lie desolate and without any people, he said. Jeremiah tried his best to convince the people that their way of living was unapproved by God. He had little success convincing his fellow men, for many of them died in ignorance. Before he died, the wise man told people living in several cities of Egypt that God would deal with Egypt and the Jews trying to escape from Babylonian hands will not be spared.
People didn’t listen as the old man preached and he wept for his nation and for all that happened to God’s land. He is famously known as the weeping prophet because it appeared he wept while delivering God’s messages to the people. This prophet lived at a time when the political and religious events were going on in the area known as Near East. They didn’t listen but he is viewed as a successful prophet who did 40 years in service, just like Moses.
This prophet mentioned Memphis because it was a prosperous city, a great place to be in the country. It was strategically located near the Nile River, also known as a huge religious cult center for the citizens. Some of the fleeing Jews saw the place as a nice place in which to hide but the man of God didn’t see things that way. Although he died in that land, his messages often offered a glimpse of hope for the righteous Jews. Even if the story was for the days after his death, here, the man spoke as if it was time for the Jews to pack their loads and go into exile in Babylon.