Bible Verse Lookup
Jeremiah
Richard J. Clifford
Jeremiah began his prophetic ministry in 627 BC, during the reform initiated by King Josiah (640–609) and is last heard from as an unwilling exile in Egypt in the period between 582 and 570. Though his ministry began in a period of bright promise and reform, his recorded preaching focused on the disintegration of Judah from 609 forward, after King Josiah was killed and Babylon's assaults began. Especially noteworthy is his preaching during the grim period leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 and its aftermath. The Hebrew version of Jeremiah falls into three main parts: (1) chapters 1 through 25 , poetic oracles of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, including sermons, reports of prophetic actions, and laments; (2) chapters 26 through 45 , chiefly narratives about the prophet with some sermons; (3) chapters 46 through 51 , oracles concerning foreign nations. Chapter 52 , a historical appendix, provides further information about Zedekiah, the fall of Jerusalem and the exile.
