Introduction to the Book of Jeremiah
Again, just as in my Isaiah commentary, chapters and verses are color coded as to whether the prophecies are already fulfilled and in the history books in bold dark red, future Millennial Kingdom of God prophecies in bold green, or future second coming of the Messiah prophecies in bold red. Much of the book of Jeremiah is historic, but there are some stunning Millennial Kingdom prophecies as well as second coming prophecies yet to be fulfilled, tucked away in Jeremiah as well.
Background
From Halley we learn Jeremiah lived about 100 years after Isaiah, and was called to the prophetic office around 626BC. The Northern Kingdom, called the House of Israel, had fallen to the Assyrians about 100 years earlier in 721BC, having been conquered and deported up into the Caspian Sea region, never to return as a nation. Jerusalem was partly destroyed in 606BC and further devastated in 597BC, and finally burned and desolated in 586BC. Jeremiah lived through those terrible forty years, faithfully and very boldly prophesying God’s warning to these stubborn people who would not listen. On the international scene, Assyria, Babylon and Egypt were vying for world domination. The Assyrians already had it, but it was rapidly slipping from their grasp. They had dominated the world scene for 300 years, but were growing weak now, as first the Scythians and then Babylon were becoming very powerful. Egypt, a longstanding world power, going back 1,000 years, had declined to a second-rate power who could occasionally throw some military weight around, but not always effectively. Egypt was becoming militarily ambitious during this period, but Babylon broke their power around the middle of Jeremiah’s ministry (607BC), and two years later crushed Egypt in the Battle of Carchemish (605BC). Babylon went on to rule the world for the next 70 years, the same years the Jews were in captivity in Babylon. At the end of those 70 years Babylon herself was conquered by Cyrus the Great, ruling over the Medo-Persian Empire, and the Jews were released by him, free to return to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.
Jeremiah’s message constantly warned the Jews that because of their sin and refusal to repent, the Babylonians were going to conquer Judea and Jerusalem, completely. Halley brings out that his message evolved over time, and he gave 5 points in this evolution of prophesied events:
“1. Judah is going to be destroyed by victorious Babylon.
2. If Judah will turn from her wickedness, somehow God will save her from destruction at the hands of the Babylonians.
3. Later, when there seemed no longer any hope of Judah’s repentance: if, only as a matter of political expedience, Judah will submit to Babylon, she shall be spared.
4. Judah, destroyed, shall recover, and yet dominate the world.
5. Babylon, destroyer of Judah, shall herself be destroyed, never to rise again.”
(It must not be forgotten that it was God who was “evolving” the message to directly suit the rebellious response of Judah to these very prophecies.)
Chronology of Jeremiah’s Times:
627BC Josiah began his reforms (cf. 2nd Chron. 14).
626BC Jeremiah’s Call.
624BC Calah destroyed by the Scythians, Scythian occupation of all Palestine to the Egyptian border occurs.
621BC Book of the Law found, Josiah’s huge Passover.
612BC Nineveh destroyed by Babylonians, assisted by Scythians.
612/611BC Scythians withdraw from Middle East northward back to Armenia and the Russian Steppes.
609/608BC Josiah slain at Megiddo, by Pharaoh Necho II,
Assyrian Empire officially ends, battle of Haran. Jehoahaz taken captive to Egypt. Jehoiakim rules 11 years.
606BC Judah subdued by Babylon, First Captivity.
605BC Battle of Carchemish: Babylon crushed Egypt.
597BC Jehoiachin’s (Jeconiah’s) Captivity.
593BC Zedekiah’s visit to Babylon.
586BC Jerusalem burned. Temporary End to David’s Kingdom. Jeremiah let go with Zedekiah’s daughters.
Other Old Testament Prophets who lived during the time of Jeremiah
One interesting thing to note about these prophets, when God is disciplining his people he keeps his servants the Prophets with them, giving them verbal teaching and messages during the disciplining, like a loving parent would do for a rebellious child.
Ezekiel: a fellow priest, somewhat younger than Jeremiah, preaching in Babylon, among the captives, the same things that Jeremiah was preaching in Jerusalem.
Daniel: a man of royal blood, ‘holding the line’ in the palace of king Nebuchadnezzar.
Habakkuk and Zephaniah: helping Jeremiah in Jerusalem.
Nahum: at the same time, predicting the fall of Nineveh.
Obadiah: at the same time, predicting the ruin of Edom.
Urijah: same time as Jeremiah, killed by Jehoiakim.
J. Vernon McGee tells us “It will help our understanding of the prophets to weave them into 1 Samuel through 2 Chronicles, the historical books which cover the same period of time. The prophets prophesied during the time period covered by those historical books—with the exception of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, who prophesied after the Exile (and fit into the time period of the historical Books of Ezra and Nehemiah) [see http://www.unityinchrist.com/kings/1.html.”
