Dictionaries :: Jeremiah, Book Of

Jeremiah, Book Of:

consists of twenty-three separate and independent sections, arranged in five books. I. The introduction, (Jer 1). II. Reproofs of the sins of the Jews, consisting of seven sections, (1.) Jer 2; (2.) Jer 3-6; (3.) Jer 7-10; (4.) Jer 11-13; (5.) Jer 14- Jer 17:18; (6.) Jer 17:19-Jer 20; (7.) Jer 21-24. III. A general review of all nations, in two sections, (1.) Jer 46-49; (2.) Jer. 25; with an historical appendix of three sections, (1.) Jer 26; (2.) Jer 27; (3.) Jer 28, 29. IV. Two sections picturing the hopes of better times, (1.) Jer 30, 31; (2.) Jer 32,33; to which is added an historical appendix in three sections, (1.) Jer 34:1-7; (2.) Jer 34:8-22; (3.) Jer 35. V. The conclusion, in two sections, (1.) Jer 36; (2.) Jer 45.

In Egypt, after an interval, Jeremiah is supposed to have added three sections, viz., Jer 37-39; 40-43; and 44.

The principal Messianic prophecies are found in (Jer 23:1-8; Jer 31:31-40; and Jer 33:14-26).

Jeremiah's prophecies are noted for the frequent repetitions found in them of the same words and phrases and imagery. They cover the period of about 30 years. They are not recorded in the order of time. When and under what circumstances this book assumed its present form we know not.

The LXX. Version of this book is, in its arrangement and in other particulars, singularly at variance with the original. The LXX. omits (Jer 10:6-8; Jer 27:19-22; Jer 29:16-20; Jer 33:14-26; Jer 39:4-13; Jer 52:2,3,15,28-30, etc). About 2,700 words in all of the original are omitted. These omissions, etc., are capricious and arbitrary, and render the version unreliable.

Jeremiah, Book Of:

"There can be little doubt that the book of Jeremiah grew out of the roll which Baruch wrote down at the prophet's mouth in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:2). Apparently the prophets kept written records of their predictions, and collected into larger volumes such of them as were intended for permanent use."-Canon Cook. In the present order we have two great divisions:-

I. Chapters 1-45. Prophecies delivered at various times, directed mainly to Judah, or connected with Jeremiah's personal history.

II. Chapters 46-51. Prophecies connected with other nations. Looking more closely into each of these divisions, we have the following sections: (1.) Chapters 1-21, including prophecies from the thirteenth year of Josiah to the fourth of Jehoiakim; chapters 21; belongs to the later period.

(2.) Chapters. 22-25. Shorter prophecies, delivered at different times, against the kings of Judah and the false prophets (Jeremiah 25:13-14) evidently marks the conclusion of a series of prophecies; and that which follows (Jeremiah 25:15-38) the germ of the fuller predictions in chapters 46-49, has been placed here as a kind of completion to the prophecy of the seventy years and the subsequent fall of Babylon.

(3.) Chapters 26-28. The two great prophecies of the fall of Jerusalem, and the history connected with them.

(4.) Chapters 29-31. The message of comfort for the exiles in Babylon.

(5.) Chapters 32-44. The history of the last two years before the capture of Jerusalem, and of Jeremiah's work in them and in the period that followed.

(6.) Chapters 46-51. The prophecies against foreign nations, ending with the great prediction against Babylon.

(7.) The supplementary narrative of chapter 52.