Dictionaries :: Jeremiah

Jeremiah:

raised up or appointed by Jehovah. (1.) A Gadite who joined David in the wilderness (1Ch 12:10).

(2.) A Gadite warrior (1Ch 12:13).

(3.) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag (1Ch 12:4).

(4.) One of the chiefs of the tribe of Manasseh on the east of Jordan (1Ch 5:24).

(5.) The father of Hamutal (2Ki 23:31), the wife of Josiah.

(6.) One of the "greater prophets" of the Old Testament, son of Hilkiah (q.v.), a priest of Anathoth (Jer 1:1; 32:6). He was called to the prophetical office when still young (1:6), in the thirteenth year of Josiah (B.C. 628). He left his native place, and went to reside in Jerusalem, where he greatly assisted Josiah in his work of reformation (2Ki 23:1-25). The death of this pious king was bewailed by the prophet as a national calamity (2Ch 35:25).

During the three years of the reign of Jehoahaz we find no reference to Jeremiah, but in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the enmity of the people against him broke out in bitter persecution, and he was placed apparently under restraint (Jer 36:5). In the fourth year of Jehoiakim he was commanded to write the predictions given to him, and to read them to the people on the fast-day. This was done by Baruch his servant in his stead, and produced much public excitement. The roll was read to the king. In his recklessness he seized the roll, and cut it to pieces, and cast it into the fire, and ordered both Baruch and Jeremiah to be apprehended. Jeremiah procured another roll, and wrote in it the words of the roll the king had destroyed, and "many like words" besides (Jer 36:32).

He remained in Jerusalem, uttering from time to time his words of warning, but without effect. He was there when Nebuchadnezzar besieged the city (Jer 37:4,5), B.C. 589. The rumour of the approach of the Egyptians to aid the Jews in this crisis induced the Chaldeans to withdraw and return to their own land. This, however, was only for a time. The prophet, in answer to his prayer, received a message from God announcing that the Chaldeans would come again and take the city, and burn it with fire (37:7,8). The princes, in their anger at such a message by Jeremiah, cast him into prison (37:15-38:13). He was still in confinement when the city was taken (B.C. 588). The Chaldeans released him, and showed him great kindness, allowing him to choose the place of his residence. He accordingly went to Mizpah with Gedaliah, who had been made governor of Judea. Johanan succeeded Gedaliah, and refusing to listen to Jeremiah's counsels, went down into Egypt, taking Jeremiah and Baruch with him (Jer 43:6). There probably the prophet spent the remainder of his life, in vain seeking still to turn the people to the Lord, from whom they had so long revolted (44). He lived till the reign of Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar, and must have been about ninety years of age at his death. We have no authentic record of his death. He may have died at Tahpanhes, or, according to a tradition, may have gone to Babylon with the army of Nebuchadnezzar; but of this there is nothing certain.

Jeremiah:

exaltation of the Lord

Jeremiah: 1. Of Libnah

Grandfather of Jehoahaz,

2Ki 23:31; 24:18; Jer 52:1.

Jeremiah: 2. A Chief of Manasseh

1Ch 5:24

Jeremiah: 3. An Israelite

Who joined David at Ziklag,

1Ch 12:4.

Jeremiah: 4. Two Gadites

Who joined David at Ziklag,

1Ch 12:10, 13.

Jeremiah: 5. The Prophet

Jer 1:1

A Rechabite,

Jer 35:3.

A priest,

Jer 1:1.

Call of,

Jer 1:4-19.

Time of his prophecies,

Jer 3:6; 21:1; 24:1; 25:1-3; 26:1; 28:1; 32:1; 34:1; 45:1; 49:34.

Letter to the captives in Babylon,

Jer 29.

Sorrow of, under persecution,

Jer 15:10, 15; 17:15-18.

Conspiracy against,

Jer 11:21-23; 18:18-23.

Foretells the desolation of Jerusalem,

Jer 19.

Pashur, the governor of the temple, scourges and casts him into prison,

Jer 20:1-3.

Denounces Pashur,

Jer 20:3-6.

His melancholy and complaints against God, in consequence of persecution,

Jer 20:7-18.

Imprisoned by Zedekiah,

Jer 32; 33:1; 37:15-21; 38:6-13; 39:15-18; Lam 3:53-55.

Nebuchadnezzar directs the release of,

Jer 39:11-14; 40:1-4.

Has a friend in Ahikam,

Jer 26:24.

Ebed-melech, the Egyptian, intercedes to the king for him, and secures his release,

Jer 38:7-13.

Prophecies of, written by Baruch,

Jer 36:1-7, 32; 45:1.

Prophecies of, destroyed by Jehoiakim,

Jer 36:8-32.

Book of the prophecies of, delivered to Seraiah, with a charge from Jeremiah,

Jer 51:59-64.

Zedekiah seeks counsel from God by,

Jer 21:1, 2; 37:3; 38:14.

His intercession asked:

By Johanan and all the people,

Jer 42:1-6;

by Zedekiah,

Jer 37:3.

Johanan transports Jeremiah into Egypt,

Jer 43:1-7.

Foretells the conquest of Egypt by Babylon,

Jer 43:8-12.

Prophecies of, studied by Daniel,

Dan 9:2.

Celibacy of,

Jer 16:2.

Purchases a field,

Jer 32:7-10.

Lamentations of:

Over Josiah,

2Ch 35:25;

over the prosperity of the wicked,

Jer 12:1-6;

over the desolation of God's heritage,

Jer 12:7-13;

over Jerusalem,

Jer 4:14-18; 8:18-21; 9:1; 10:19-22.

See BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS.

Lam 1

Lives at Mizpah,

Jer 40:6.

Prayers of,

Jer 14:7-9; 32:17-25.

Zeal of,

Jer 15:16.

Jeremiah:

(whom Jehovah has appointed) was "the son of Hilkiah of the priests that were in Anathoth." (Jeremiah 1:1).

(1.) History.-He was called very young (B.C. 626) to the prophetic office, and prophesied forty‐two years; but we have hardly any mention of him during the eighteen years between his call and Josiah's death, or during the short reign of Jehoahaz. During the reigns of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin, B.C. 607‐598, he opposed the Egyptian party, then dominant in Jerusalem, and maintained that they only way of safety lay in accepting the supremacy of the Chaldeans. He was accordingly accused of treachery, and men claiming to be prophets had the "word of Jehovah" to set against his (Jeremiah 14:13; 23:7). As the danger from the Chaldeans became more threatening, the persecution against Jeremiah grew hotter, chapter 18. The people sought his life; then follows the scene in Jeremiah 19:10-13 he was set, however, "as a fenced brazen wall," (Jeremiah 15:20) and went on with his work, reproving king and nobles and people. The danger which Jeremiah had so long foretold at last came near. First Jehoiakim, and afterwards his successor Jehoiachin, were carried into exile, 2 Kings 24; but Zedekiah, B.C. 597‐586, who was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, was more friendly to the prophet, though powerless to help him. The approach of an Egyptian army, and the consequent departure of the Chaldeans, made the position of Jeremiah full of danger, and he sought to effect his escape from the city; but he was seized and finally thrown into a prison‐pit to die, but was rescued. On the return of the Chaldean army he showed his faith in God's promises, and sought to encourage the people by purchasing the field at Anathoth which his kinsman Hanameel wished to get rid of (Jeremiah 32:6-9). At last the blow came. The city was taken, the temple burnt. The king and his princes shared the fate of Jehoiachin. The prophet gave utterance to his sorrow in the Lamentations. After the capture of Jerusalem, B.C. 586, by the Chaldeans, we find Jeremiah receiving better treatment; but after the death of Gedaliah, the people, disregarding his warnings, took refuge in Egypt, carrying the prophet with them. In captivity his words were sharper and stronger than ever. He did not shrink, even there, from speaking of the Chaldean king once more as "the servant of Jehovah." (Jeremiah 43:10). After this all is uncertain, but he probably died in Egypt.

(2.) Character.-Canon Cook says of Jeremiah, "His character is most interesting. We find him sensitive to a most painful degree, timid, shy, hopeless, desponding, constantly complaining and dissatisfied with the course of events, but never flinching from duty… Timid in resolve, he was unflinching in execution; as fearless when he had to face the whole world as he was dispirited and prone to murmuring when alone with God. Judged by his own estimate of himself, he was feeble, and his mission a failure; really, in the hour of action and when duty called him, he was in very truth 'a defended city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land.' (Jeremiah 1:18) he was a noble example of the triumph of the moral over the physical nature." (It is not strange that he was desponding when we consider his circumstances. He saw the nation going straight to irremediable ruin, and turning a deaf ear to all warnings. "A reign of terror had commenced (in the preceding reign) during which not only the prophets but all who were distinguished for religion and virtue were cruelly murdered." "The nation tried to extirpate the religion of Jehovah;" "Idolatry was openly established," "and such was the universal dishonesty that no man trusted another, and society was utterly disorganized." How could one who saw the nation about to reap the awful harvest they had been sowing, and yet had a vision of what they might have been and might yet be, help indulging in "Lamentations"?-ED.)

Seven other persons bearing the same name as the prophet are mentioned in the Old Testament:-

(3.) Jeremiah of Libnah, father of Hamutal wife of Josiah (2 Kings 23:31). (B.C. before 632)

(4.) (5.) (6.) Three warriors-two of the tribe of Gad- in David's army (1 Chronicles 12:4; 12:10; 12:13). (B.C. 1061‐53)

(7.) One of the "mighty men of valor" of the transjordanic half‐tribe of Manasseh (1 Chronicles 5:24). (B.C. 782)

(8.) A priest of high rank, head of the second or third of the twenty‐one courses which are apparently enumerated in Nehemiah 10:2-8; 12:1; 12:12 (B.C. 446‐410)

(9.) The father of Jazaniah the Rechabite (Jeremiah 35:3). (B.C. before 606)