Now what will you gain on your way to EgyptThis phrase addresses the futility of seeking alliances with Egypt, a nation often symbolizing worldly power and idolatry. Historically, Egypt was a significant power, and Israel frequently turned to it for military support against other threats, such as the Assyrians and Babylonians. This reliance on Egypt is seen as a lack of trust in God, who had delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage in the past (
Exodus 20:2). The rhetorical question implies that seeking help from Egypt will not bring the desired security or prosperity.
to drink the waters of the Nile?
The Nile River was the lifeblood of Egypt, representing its strength and sustenance. Drinking its waters symbolizes reliance on Egypt's resources and power. In a spiritual sense, this act signifies turning away from the living water that God provides (Jeremiah 2:13) and instead seeking satisfaction in earthly sources that ultimately cannot fulfill. This imagery contrasts with the living water Jesus offers inJohn 4:10-14, highlighting the inadequacy of worldly solutions compared to divine provision.
What will you gain on your way to Assyria
Assyria was another dominant empire during Jeremiah's time, known for its military might and oppressive rule. Israel's inclination to seek Assyrian support reflects a pattern of political maneuvering rather than trusting in God's protection. Historically, Assyria had already been a threat to Israel, having conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC. The question underscores the futility and danger of relying on a nation that had previously been an adversary.
to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
The Euphrates River was central to Assyria's power and prosperity, much like the Nile was to Egypt. Drinking its waters symbolizes dependence on Assyria's strength and resources. This reliance is portrayed as misguided, as it involves turning away from God's covenant and protection. The imagery of water here also serves as a metaphor for seeking life and sustenance from sources other than God, echoing the broader biblical theme of God as the true source of life and blessing (Psalm 36:9).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned the reigns of several kings and was marked by his deep emotional connection to his people and his unwavering commitment to God's truth.
2.
EgyptA powerful nation to the southwest of Judah, often seen as a place of refuge or alliance in times of political instability. Historically, Egypt was a land of bondage for the Israelites, and returning there symbolized a lack of trust in God's provision.
3.
AssyriaA dominant empire to the northeast of Judah, known for its military might and oppressive rule. Assyria was often a threat to smaller nations, including Israel and Judah, and seeking alliance with them was seen as a compromise of faith.
4.
NileThe major river in Egypt, symbolizing the life and sustenance that Egypt could offer. In this context, it represents reliance on foreign powers rather than on God.
5.
EuphratesA significant river in Assyria, representing the strength and resources of the Assyrian empire. Like the Nile, it symbolizes misplaced trust in human power.
Teaching Points
Misplaced TrustThe Israelites' desire to seek help from Egypt and Assyria reflects a deeper issue of misplaced trust. Instead of relying on God, they looked to human powers for security and provision.
Historical LessonsThe history of Israel's bondage in Egypt serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. Returning to Egypt symbolizes a regression in faith and trust.
Spiritual AdulterySeeking alliances with foreign nations is akin to spiritual adultery, as it represents a breach of the covenant relationship with God.
Modern ParallelsToday, believers are tempted to place their trust in worldly systems, wealth, or power rather than in God. This passage challenges us to examine where we place our trust.
Call to RepentanceJeremiah's message is a call to repentance, urging the people to return to God and forsake their reliance on foreign powers.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Jeremiah 2:18?
2.How does Jeremiah 2:18 warn against seeking help from worldly powers today?
3.What does "the waters of the Nile" symbolize in Jeremiah 2:18?
4.How can we apply Jeremiah 2:18 to avoid spiritual compromise?
5.What other scriptures caution against relying on foreign alliances for security?
6.How does Jeremiah 2:18 challenge us to trust solely in God's provision?
7.What does Jeremiah 2:18 reveal about Israel's reliance on foreign powers instead of God?
8.How does Jeremiah 2:18 challenge the belief in self-sufficiency over divine guidance?
9.What historical context led to the alliances mentioned in Jeremiah 2:18?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 2?
11.Jeremiah 11:9–10: Is there archaeological or historical evidence of a widespread “conspiracy” among Judah and Israel during Jeremiah’s time?
12.Why does Isaiah 19’s prophecy differ from other prophetic passages about Egypt (e.g., Ezekiel 29) if they both claim divine judgment?
13.Hosea 8:10: If alliances were necessary for survival in the ancient Near East, why is Israel condemned for making them?
14.Jeremiah 46:2 - How do we reconcile the timing and details of Pharaoh Necho's defeat with known Egyptian records, which do not fully match this account?What Does Jeremiah 2:18 Mean
Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile?• Jeremiah pictures Judah packing up and heading southwest to seek help from Egypt, the nation God had already judged and from which He had powerfully delivered them (Exodus 14:30–31).
• “Waters of the Nile” symbolize Egypt’s resources—military strength, political leverage, and the false gods behind them. Yet Isaiah had already warned, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 31:1).
• Depending on Egypt shows faithlessness, because the Lord Himself is “the spring of living water” (Jeremiah 2:13). Anything else is a broken cistern that leaks hope.
•Deuteronomy 17:16 forbade kings from sending people back to Egypt for horses, highlighting that reliance on Egypt is disobedience.
• History proves Egypt’s help unreliable: Pharaoh Neco’s defeat at Carchemish (Jeremiah 46:2) leaves Judah exposed. Trust in Egypt gains nothing but disappointment.
What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?• Turning northeast, Judah also flirts with Assyria, the empire that had crushed Israel a century earlier (2 Kings 17:6). The Euphrates River represents Assyria’s might and abundance.
•Hosea 5:13 records Israel’s earlier mistake: “When Ephraim saw his sickness… he went to Assyria, yet he could not heal you.” Judah repeats the same error.
• God had warned, “The king of Assyria will carry off the riches of Egypt” (Isaiah 20:4–6), showing both superpowers were transient tools in His hand, not reliable saviors.
• Alliances with Assyria led to spiritual compromise—imported idols and pagan practices (2 Kings 16:7–10). Running to Assyria meant drinking polluted water that poisoned covenant faithfulness.
• The question exposes the futility: What lasting benefit can Assyria provide when the Lord alone gives victory (2 Kings 19:32–37)?
summaryJeremiah 2:18 confronts Judah’s restless search for security apart from God. Whether turning to Egypt’s Nile or Assyria’s Euphrates, the nation is chasing muddy waters instead of drawing from the Lord’s living fountain. The verse calls God’s people to abandon political scheming, reject idolatrous dependencies, and return to wholehearted trust in the One who redeemed them and alone can sustain them.
(18)
In the way of Egypt . . .?--The rebuke becomes more and more specific. Great rivers were, in the poetry of the prophets, the natural symbols of the kingdoms through which they flowed. Sihor (= the turbid or muddy river) here, and in
Isaiah 23:3 the Nile (though in
Joshua 13:3 it stands for the border stream between Palestine and Egypt), represented Egypt. The "river," or "flood," needing no other name as pre-eminent in its greatness (comp.
Joshua 24:14-15), the Euphrates, stood for Assyria (comp.
Isaiah 8:7). The words point to the tendency to court the alliance now of one, now of the other of the great kingdoms of the world. The policy was no new one. Menahem in Israel, Ahaz in Judah, had courted Assyria (
2Kings 15:19;
2Kings 16:7-8); Hezekiah, Babylon (Isaiah 39); Hoshea had sought help from Egypt (
2Kings 17:4). The prophet Hosea had rebuked both policies (
Hosea 5:13;
Hosea 7:11;
Hosea 8:9). Even under Hezekiah there was a party seeking the Egyptian alliance (Isaiah 18, 19, 31. Under Manasseh and Amon that party was in power, and the very name of the latter probably bears witness to its influence. Josiah kept as far as possible the position of a neutral, but, when forced into action, and probably guided by the counsels of Hilkiah, resisted the advance of Pharaoh-nechoh (
2Kings 23:29). On his death the Egyptian party again gained ground under Jehoiakim, while Jeremiah, opposing its strength, urged the wisdom of accepting the guidance of events, and submitting to the Chaldaeans (so far continuing the line of action adopted by Hezekiah), and ultimately was accused of deserting his own people and "falling away" to their oppressors (
Jeremiah 37:13). . . .
Verse 18. -
What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt? rather,
with the way to Egypt. Isaiah (
Isaiah 30:2-5;
Isaiah 31:1) and Hosea (
Hosea 7:11, 16) had already inveighed against an Egyptian alliance. The name given by Manasseh to his sen and successor (Amen) suggests that at one period in his reign an Egyptian policy was in the ascendant, which coincides with the tradition preserved in
2 Chronicles 33:11, of an Assyrian captivity of Manasseh. Jehoiakim at a later period was a vassal of Egypt (
2 Kings 23:31, 35).
To drink the waters; taking up the idea of the second clause of ver. 13.
Sihor, or Shihor, occurs again in
Isaiah 23:3, as a name of the Nile. It properly means, not so much "the black" as "the dark grey" (connected with
shakhar, the morning grey), from the color of the water. Rosenmüller's contrast between the muddy waters of foreign streams and the "fountain of living waters" is uncalled for; besides, the Nile water has always been held in high esteem. The Septuagint has
Γηών,
i.
e. Gihon, also a name of-the Nile according to Ecclus. 24:27.
The way of - rather, to -
Assyria. It is true that Assyria was, to say the least, powerless to interfere for good or for evil, when these words were written. But in ver. 5 the prophet has already warned us that his complaints are partly retrospective. It would seem that the Assyrian party from time to time gained the upper hand over the Egyptian in the councils of the State. Or perhaps the prophet may refer to the Quixotic fidelity to Assyria of Josiah (see below on ver. 36).
The river;
i.
e. the Euphrates, "the great river" (
Genesis 15:18). Babylonia it should be remembered, was in nominal subjection to Assyria; the Euphrates was the boundary between Syria and Palestine on the one hand, and Assyria - here the Assyrio-Babylonian region - on the other.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Nowוְעַתָּ֗ה(wə·‘at·tāh)Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258:At this timewhat will you gainמַה־(mah-)Interrogative
Strong's 4100:What?, what!, indefinitely whaton your wayלְדֶ֣רֶךְ(lə·ḏe·reḵ)Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870:A road, a course of life, mode of actionto Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִם(miṣ·ra·yim)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714:Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africato drinkלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת(liš·tō·wṯ)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8354:To imbibethe watersמֵ֣י(mê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325:Water, juice, urine, semenof the Nile?שִׁח֑וֹר(ši·ḥō·wr)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7883:Nile -- a stream on the border of EgyptWhat will you gainוּמַה־(ū·mah-)Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100:What?, what!, indefinitely whaton your wayלְדֶ֣רֶךְ(lə·ḏe·reḵ)Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870:A road, a course of life, mode of actionto Assyriaאַשּׁ֔וּר(’aš·šūr)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 804:Ashshurto drinkלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת(liš·tō·wṯ)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8354:To imbibethe watersמֵ֥י(mê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325:Water, juice, urine, semenof the Euphrates?נָהָֽר׃(nā·hār)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5104:A stream, prosperity
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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 2:18 Now what have you to do (Jer.) 
