25:26 went to Egypt. Fearing reprisals from the Babylonians, these coup leaders sought refuge in Egypt where an anti-Babylonian pharaoh ruled (24:20 note). The law of the king in Deut. 17:14–20 forbids any king in Israel to lead the people back to Egypt (Deut. 17:16). Ironically, these coup leaders in their quest for power enact one of the curses of the covenant—returning to Egypt, the land of bondage and slavery (Deut. 28:68).