---

Jeremiah 


Text:  raised up or appointed by Jehovah. 

(1.) A Gadite who joined David in the wilderness (1 Chr. 12:10). 

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

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

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

(5.) The father of Hamutal (2 Kings 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 (2 Kings 23:1-25). The death of this pious king was 
bewailed by the prophet as a national calamity (2 Chr. 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.