Released from prison by the Babylonian officers, the prophet chose to cast in his lot with the feeble remnant, "certain poor of the land" left by the Chaldeans to be "vinedressers and husbandmen." Over these the Babylonians set Gedaliah as governor. Only a few months passed before the newly appointed governor was treacherously slain. The poor people, after passing through many trials, were finally persuaded by their leaders to take refuge in the land of Egypt. Against this move, Jeremiah lifted his voice in protest. "Go ye not into Egypt," he pleaded. But the inspired counsel was not heeded, and "all the remnant of Judah, . . . even men, and women, and children," took flight into Egypt. "They obeyed not the voice of the Lord: thus came they even to Tahpanhes." Jeremiah 43:5-7.

Da profeten var blevet løsladt af de babyloniske officerer, gjorde han fælles sag med de få judæere, der var blevet tilbage, "nogle af de fattigste af folket fra landet" som kaldæerne havde ladet blive tilbage som "vingårdsmænd og agerdyrkere". Babylonerne indsatte Gedalja som statholder over disse. Der gik kun nogle få måneder, så blev den nye statholder dræbt ved et forræderi. Den fattige befolkning gennemgik mange prøvelser og blev til sidst overtalt af deres ledere til at søge tilflugt i Ægypten. Jeremias protesterede. "Drag ikke til Ægypten," sagde han indtrængende. Men hans inspirerede råd blev ikke fulgt, og "hele Judas rest, ..... mænd, kvinder og børn" flygtede til Ægypten. "De adlød ikke Herrens røst. Og de kom til Takpankes." Jer. 43,5-7.