Last week: talked about the many voices in Isaiah—at least three
different writers wrote Isaiah, literally over a 300 year period
Not so with Jeremiah—more grounded in a person, though there were
additions later to the book, that were not directly related to the historical
figure of Isaiah. A collection of writings centered around Jeremiah, much
of it his work, others who have written in his name
Isaiah—many different writers over 300 years
Jeremiah—more grounded in one historical figure, over a 40 year period
(627-587 BCE)
Helps explain the chaotic nature of the book, and the same problem we
found with Isaiah—it jumps all over the place in terms of themes, and
historical situations, sometimes out of chronological order.
Isaiah—not much info on Isaiah, the person, and not many personal
stories about him
Jeremiah—lots of stories about Jeremiah and his specific actions and
ministry
Jeremiah has more story—Isaiah is more talky, Jeremiah preaches and
writes poetry, but a lot of this book is stories about Jeremiah’s ministry.
Isaiah—more chapters
Jeremiah—more words, hence the most long-winded of the prophets
Longest book of the prophets, even more so than Isaiah, which has more
chapters, but is overall a shorter length.
Isaiah—a jumble of different writings, obviously often out of chronological
order
Jeremiah—ditto
Helps explain the chaotic nature of the book, and the same problem we
found with Isaiah—it jumps all over the place in terms of themes, and
historical situations, sometimes out of chronological order.
Who Was Jeremiah?
A Pre-Exile Prophet, mostly, who was active from 627 BCE to 587 BCE.
The main reasons for Jeremiah’s ministry
1) Jeremiah defends the honor of God by saying that the disastrous
events that have fallen upon Israel are a result of human sin
2) Jeremiah wants the people to not resist the Babylonians because they
are instruments of God’s wrath
3) To give hope to the people who are now in captivity in Babylon, and to
a lesser degree, to those who remain in Jerusalem
He watches in horror as the calamity he predicts come true—the
warnings of God’s wrath come true!
But not alone Always accompanied by Baruch—his secretary, the one
who wrote down his prophecies. Also a friend..
Mixture of poetry and prose, narrative. Example chapter 1
His experience is the experience of Israel—
His life becomes a symbol of the nation’s suffering, he embodies the
story of the nation, its suffering.
Jeremiah’s Life As The Story Of His People
1) He remains unmarried and without children as a sign of the end of life
in the land of Israel
2) He is arrested, imprisoned, and left in a well to die, narrowly escaping
with his life, like his people held captive in Babylon.
3) He loses everything, like the people of Israel, but he survives.
4) He buys a plot of land to symbolize the renewed life that will come in
the future.
Jeremiah—Quick Overview
Book One (chapters 1-25)—How The Nation Fell
1-10—God Destroys The World
11-20—God Destroys the Covenant
21-25—Aftermath of Invasion
Book Two (chapters 26-52)—How The Nation Will Survive
26-36—Blame and hope
37-45—Baruch’s account/
46-51—Oracles Against the nations
52—The end
The Sad Parade of Kings
King Josiah (640-609)—vassal king of the Assyrians, vassal nations
revolted in 627, gained some measure of independence, reformer,
wanted re-establishment of the kingdom of David and Solomon,
reaffirmed the covenant and worship of Yahweh in Jerusalem,
successful, but died in battle against the Egyptians in 609 in Megiddo,
eventually became a vassal state of Babylonians
King Jehoahaz II (609)—carted off to Egypt after 3 month rule
King Jehoiakim (609—598)—rebelled against the Babylonians in 598,
bad guy
King Jehoiachin (598-597)—taken to Babylon, treated royally, chapter
52 takes place in 560, a ray of hope, the first deportation takes place in
597, major leaders to Babylon, including Jehoiachin
King Zedekiah (597-587) (installed as a puppet king of Babylon after
Jehoichin is taken to Babylon. Zedekiah rebels in 587, Babylon invades,
destroys city and temple and 2nd deportation takes place king and
leaders in 587—described in chapter 52
Chapter 52: 1-11
Then read verses 31-34—last words of hope, dignity in captivity. Not a
triumphal return to Jerusalem as Jeremiah predicts, but not hopeless
either. Mirrors 1 Kings 25 description of the fall of Jerusalem of Bablyon
in 587
Governor Gedaliah (587-582) (assassinated, third deportation in 582)
After Gedaliah’s assassination by Judean zealots, Jeremiah goes with an
exile group to Egypt to escape deportation to Babylon, and disappears
into history.
But he or those who came after him, couldn’t let us go without words of
hope—the prophet tells of ruin and redemption, destruction and hope.
