August 14, 2025
God's Judgment Falls on People of All Nations
Jeremiah 50-52
Ginni Beam
Big Book Idea
Being a messenger of truth in a dark place can be challenging, but it is worth it.
Key Verse | Jeremiah 50:6
"My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold."
Jeremiah 50-52
Chapter 50
Judgment on Babylon
1 The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet:
2
“Declare among the nations and proclaim,
set up a banner and proclaim,
conceal it not, and say:
‘Babylon is taken,
Bel is put to shame,
Merodach is dismayed.
Her images are put to shame,
her idols are dismayed.’
3 For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away.
4 In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the LORD their God. 5 They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.’
6 My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold. 7 All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their habitation of righteousness, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’
8 Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock. 9 For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. 10 Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the LORD.
11
Though you rejoice, though you exult,
O plunderers of my heritage,
though you frolic like a heifer in the pasture,
and neigh like stallions,
12
your mother shall be utterly shamed,
and she who bore you shall be disgraced.
Behold, she shall be the last of the nations,
a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
13
Because of the wrath of the LORD she shall not be inhabited
but shall be an utter desolation;
everyone who passes by Babylon shall be appalled,
and hiss because of all her wounds.
14
Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around,
all you who bend the bow;
shoot at her, spare no arrows,
for she has sinned against the LORD.
15
Raise a shout against her all around;
she has surrendered;
her bulwarks have fallen;
her walls are thrown down.
For this is the vengeance of the LORD:
take vengeance on her;
do to her as she has done.
16
Cut off from Babylon the sower,
and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest;
because of the sword of the oppressor,
every one shall turn to his own people,
and every one shall flee to his own land.
17 Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones. 18 Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria. 19 I will restore Israel to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and in Bashan, and his desire shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead. 20 In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.
21
Go up against the land of Merathaim,
1
50:21
Merathaim means double rebellion
and against the inhabitants of Pekod.
2
50:21
Pekod means punishment
Kill, and devote them to destruction,
3
50:21
That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
declares the LORD,
and do all that I have commanded you.
22
The noise of battle is in the land,
and great destruction!
23
How the hammer of the whole earth
is cut down and broken!
How Babylon has become
a horror among the nations!
24
I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon,
and you did not know it;
you were found and caught,
because you opposed the LORD.
25
The LORD has opened his armory
and brought out the weapons of his wrath,
for the Lord God of hosts has a work to do
in the land of the Chaldeans.
26
Come against her from every quarter;
open her granaries;
pile her up like heaps of grain, and devote her to destruction;
let nothing be left of her.
27
Kill all her bulls;
let them go down to the slaughter.
Woe to them, for their day has come,
the time of their punishment.
28 A voice! They flee and escape from the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, vengeance for his temple.
29 Summon archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her according to all that she has done. For she has proudly defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 30 Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, declares the LORD.
31
Behold, I am against you, O proud one,
declares the Lord God of hosts,
for your day has come,
the time when I will punish you.
32
The proud one shall stumble and fall,
with none to raise him up,
and I will kindle a fire in his cities,
and it will devour all that is around him.
33 Thus says the LORD of hosts: The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah with them. All who took them captive have held them fast; they refuse to let them go. 34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.
35
A sword against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD,
and against the inhabitants of Babylon,
and against her officials and her wise men!
36
A sword against the diviners,
that they may become fools!
A sword against her warriors,
that they may be destroyed!
37
A sword against her horses and against her chariots,
and against all the foreign troops in her midst,
that they may become women!
A sword against all her treasures,
that they may be plundered!
38
A drought against her waters,
that they may be dried up!
For it is a land of images,
and they are mad over idols.
39 Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon, 4 50:39 Hebrew lacks in Babylon and ostriches shall dwell in her. She shall never again have people, nor be inhabited for all generations. 40 As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, declares the LORD, so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her.
41
Behold, a people comes from the north;
a mighty nation and many kings
are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.
42
They lay hold of bow and spear;
they are cruel and have no mercy.
The sound of them is like the roaring of the sea;
they ride on horses,
arrayed as a man for battle
against you, O daughter of Babylon!
43
The king of Babylon heard the report of them,
and his hands fell helpless;
anguish seized him,
pain as of a woman in labor.
44 Behold, like a lion coming up from the thicket of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make them run away from her, and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? 45 Therefore hear the plan that the LORD has made against Babylon, and the purposes that he has formed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of their flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. 46 At the sound of the capture of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations.”
Chapter 51
The Utter Destruction of Babylon
1
Thus says the LORD:
“Behold, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer
against Babylon,
against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai,
5
51:1
A code name for Chaldea
2
and I will send to Babylon winnowers,
and they shall winnow her,
and they shall empty her land,
when they come against her from every side
on the day of trouble.
3
Let not the archer bend his bow,
and let him not stand up in his armor.
Spare not her young men;
devote to destruction
6
51:3
That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
all her army.
4
They shall fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans,
and wounded in her streets.
5
For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken
by their God, the LORD of hosts,
but the land of the Chaldeans
7
51:5
Hebrew their land
is full of guilt
against the Holy One of Israel.
6
Flee from the midst of Babylon;
let every one save his life!
Be not cut off in her punishment,
for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance,
the repayment he is rendering her.
7
Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD's hand,
making all the earth drunken;
the nations drank of her wine;
therefore the nations went mad.
8
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken;
wail for her!
Take balm for her pain;
perhaps she may be healed.
9
We would have healed Babylon,
but she was not healed.
Forsake her, and let us go
each to his own country,
for her judgment has reached up to heaven
and has been lifted up even to the skies.
10
The LORD has brought about our vindication;
come, let us declare in Zion
the work of the LORD our God.
11
Sharpen the arrows!
Take up the shields!
The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for his temple.
12
Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon;
make the watch strong;
set up watchmen;
prepare the ambushes;
for the LORD has both planned and done
what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13
O you who dwell by many waters,
rich in treasures,
your end has come;
the thread of your life is cut.
14
The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself:
Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts,
and they shall raise the shout of victory over you.
15
It is he who made the earth by his power,
who established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
16
When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,
and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain,
and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
17
Every man is stupid and without knowledge;
every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
for his images are false,
and there is no breath in them.
18
They are worthless, a work of delusion;
at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
19
Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,
for he is the one who formed all things,
and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;
the LORD of hosts is his name.
20
You are my hammer and weapon of war:
with you I break nations in pieces;
with you I destroy kingdoms;
21
with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider;
with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer;
22
with you I break in pieces man and woman;
with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth;
with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman;
23
with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock;
with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team;
with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.
24 I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea before your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion, declares the LORD.
25
Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain,
declares the LORD,
which destroys the whole earth;
I will stretch out my hand against you,
and roll you down from the crags,
and make you a burnt mountain.
26
No stone shall be taken from you for a corner
and no stone for a foundation,
but you shall be a perpetual waste,
declares the LORD.
27
Set up a standard on the earth;
blow the trumpet among the nations;
prepare the nations for war against her;
summon against her the kingdoms,
Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz;
appoint a marshal against her;
bring up horses like bristling locusts.
28
Prepare the nations for war against her,
the kings of the Medes, with their governors and deputies,
and every land under their dominion.
29
The land trembles and writhes in pain,
for the LORD's purposes against Babylon stand,
to make the land of Babylon a desolation,
without inhabitant.
30
The warriors of Babylon have ceased fighting;
they remain in their strongholds;
their strength has failed;
they have become women;
her dwellings are on fire;
her bars are broken.
31
One runner runs to meet another,
and one messenger to meet another,
to tell the king of Babylon
that his city is taken on every side;
32
the fords have been seized,
the marshes are burned with fire,
and the soldiers are in panic.
33
For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor
at the time when it is trodden;
yet a little while
and the time of her harvest will come.”
34
“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me;
he has crushed me;
he has made me an empty vessel;
he has swallowed me like a monster;
he has filled his stomach with my delicacies;
he has rinsed me out.
8
51:34
Or he has expelled me
35
The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon,”
let the inhabitant of Zion say.
“My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,”
let Jerusalem say.
36
Therefore thus says the LORD:
“Behold, I will plead your cause
and take vengeance for you.
I will dry up her sea
and make her fountain dry,
37
and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins,
the haunt of jackals,
a horror and a hissing,
without inhabitant.
38
They shall roar together like lions;
they shall growl like lions' cubs.
39
While they are inflamed I will prepare them a feast
and make them drunk, that they may become merry,
then sleep a perpetual sleep
and not wake, declares the LORD.
40
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter,
like rams and male goats.
41
How Babylon
9
51:41
Hebrew Sheshach, a code name for Babylon
is taken,
the praise of the whole earth seized!
How Babylon has become
a horror among the nations!
42
The sea has come up on Babylon;
she is covered with its tumultuous waves.
43
Her cities have become a horror,
a land of drought and a desert,
a land in which no one dwells,
and through which no son of man passes.
44
And I will punish Bel in Babylon,
and take out of his mouth what he has swallowed.
The nations shall no longer flow to him;
the wall of Babylon has fallen.
45
Go out of the midst of her, my people!
Let every one save his life
from the fierce anger of the LORD!
46
Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful
at the report heard in the land,
when a report comes in one year
and afterward a report in another year,
and violence is in the land,
and ruler is against ruler.
47
Therefore, behold, the days are coming
when I will punish the images of Babylon;
her whole land shall be put to shame,
and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
48
Then the heavens and the earth,
and all that is in them,
shall sing for joy over Babylon,
for the destroyers shall come against them out of the north,
declares the LORD.
49
Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel,
just as for Babylon have fallen the slain of all the earth.
50
You who have escaped from the sword,
go, do not stand still!
Remember the LORD from far away,
and let Jerusalem come into your mind:
51
‘We are put to shame, for we have heard reproach;
dishonor has covered our face,
for foreigners have come
into the holy places of the LORD's house.’
52
Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD,
when I will execute judgment upon her images,
and through all her land
the wounded shall groan.
53
Though Babylon should mount up to heaven,
and though she should fortify her strong height,
yet destroyers would come from me against her,
declares the LORD.
54
A voice! A cry from Babylon!
The noise of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55
For the LORD is laying Babylon waste
and stilling her mighty voice.
Their waves roar like many waters;
the noise of their voice is raised,
56
for a destroyer has come upon her,
upon Babylon;
her warriors are taken;
their bows are broken in pieces,
for the LORD is a God of recompense;
he will surely repay.
57
I will make drunk her officials and her wise men,
her governors, her commanders, and her warriors;
they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake,
declares the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
58
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
The broad wall of Babylon
shall be leveled to the ground,
and her high gates
shall be burned with fire.
The peoples labor for nothing,
and the nations weary themselves only for fire.”
59 The word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster. 60 Jeremiah wrote in a book all the disaster that should come upon Babylon, all these words that are written concerning Babylon. 61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, 62 and say, ‘O LORD, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate forever.’ 63 When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, 64 and say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.’”
Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
Chapter 52
The Fall of Jerusalem Recounted
1 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3 For because of the anger of the LORD it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence.
And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4 And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it. 5 So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 6 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. 7 Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled and went out from the city by night by the way of a gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, and the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah. 8 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. 9 Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence on him. 10 The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and also slaughtered all the officials of Judah at Riblah. 11 He put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in chains, and the king of Babylon took him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.
The Temple Burned
12 In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, who served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. 13 And he burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. 14 And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. 15 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poorest of the people and the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the artisans. 16 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen.
17 And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all the bronze to Babylon. 18 And they took away the pots and the shovels and the snuffers and the basins and the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service; 19 also the small bowls and the fire pans and the basins and the pots and the lampstands and the dishes for incense and the bowls for drink offerings. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver. 20 As for the two pillars, the one sea, the twelve bronze bulls that were under the sea, 10 52:20 Hebrew lacks the sea and the stands, which Solomon the king had made for the house of the LORD, the bronze of all these things was beyond weight. 21 As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, 11 52:21 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters its circumference was twelve cubits, and its thickness was four fingers, and it was hollow. 22 On it was a capital of bronze. The height of the one capital was five cubits. A network and pomegranates, all of bronze, were around the capital. And the second pillar had the same, with pomegranates. 23 There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were a hundred upon the network all around.
The People Exiled to Babylon
24 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the threshold; 25 and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men of war, and seven men of the king's council, who were found in the city; and the secretary of the commander of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the midst of the city. 26 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 27 And the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.
28 This is the number of the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year, 3,023 Judeans; 29 in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem 832 persons; 30 in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Judeans 745 persons; all the persons were 4,600.
Jehoiachin Released from Prison
31 And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed 12 52:31 Hebrew reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. 32 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table, 34 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, until the day of his death, as long as he lived.
Footnotes
[1] 50:21 Merathaim means double rebellion[2] 50:21 Pekod means punishment
[3] 50:21 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
[4] 50:39 Hebrew lacks in Babylon
[5] 51:1 A code name for Chaldea
[6] 51:3 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
[7] 51:5 Hebrew their land
[8] 51:34 Or he has expelled me
[9] 51:41 Hebrew Sheshach, a code name for Babylon
[10] 52:20 Hebrew lacks the sea
[11] 52:21 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
[12] 52:31 Hebrew reign, lifted up the head of
Table of Contents
Introduction to Jeremiah
Timeline
Author and Date
Jeremiah was called to be a prophet c. 627 B.C., when he was young (1:6). He served for more than 40 years (1:2–3). Jeremiah had a difficult life. His messages of repentance delivered at the temple were not well received (7:1–8:3; 26:1–11). His hometown plotted against him (11:18–23), and he endured much persecution (20:1–6; 37:11–38:13; 43:1–7). At God’s command, he never married (16:1–4). Although he preached God’s word faithfully, he apparently had only two converts: Baruch, his scribe (32:12; 36:1–4; 45:1–5); and Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch who served the king (38:7–13; 39:15–18). Though the book does not reveal the time or place of Jeremiah’s death, he probably died in Egypt, where he had been taken by his countrymen against his will after the fall of Jerusalem (43:1–7). He most likely did not live to see the devastation he mentions in chs. 46–51.
Purpose
Jeremiah and Baruch left a record of the difficult times in which they lived, God’s message for those times, and God’s message for the future of Israel and the nations.
Key Themes
- God and humanity. God alone is a living God. God alone made the world. All other so-called gods are mere idols (10:1–16). This Creator God called Israel to a special relationship (chs. 2–6), gave her his holy word, and promised to bless her temple with his name and presence (7:1–8:3). God rules both the present and the future (1:4–16; 29:1–10), protects his chosen ones (1:17–19; 29:11–14; 39:15–18; 45:1–5), and saves those who turn to him (12:14–17). Because God is absolutely trustworthy and always keeps his promises, his grace triumphs over sin and judgment when people repent and turn to him.
The human heart is sick, and no one except God can cure it (17:9–10). The nations worship idols instead of their Creator (10:1–16). Israel, God’s covenant people, went after other gods (chs. 2–6), defiled the temple by their unwillingness to repent (7:1–8:3; 26:1–11), and oppressed one another (34:8–16). Since Israel and the nations have sinned against God (25:1–26), God the Creator is also the Judge of every nation on the earth he created (chs. 46–51).
- Old covenant, Messiah, and new covenant. God made a covenant with Israel, based on his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12–50). As time passed, God’s covenant with Israel included his promise to David of an eternal kingdom (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17). God used Jeremiah to deliver the good news that, sometime in the future, God would “make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jer. 31:31). This covenant would be different in one major way. The new covenant partners will not break the covenant, as most of the old partners did even though God was completely faithful (31:32). Instead, the new covenant partners will have the word of God so ingrained in their hearts through God’s power that they will know and follow God all their lives (31:33–34).
Thus, all the new covenant partners will be believers who are forgiven and empowered by God; he will “remember their sin no more” (31:34). Hebrews 8:8–12 quotes Jer. 31:31–34 as evidence that the new covenant has come through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The coming of Jesus the Messiah fulfills God’s promises to Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets.
Outline
- Introduction (1:1–19)
- Israel’s Covenantal Adultery (2:1–6:30)
- False Religion and an Idolatrous People (7:1–10:25)
- Jeremiah’s Struggles with God and Judah (11:1–20:18)
- Jeremiah’s Confrontations (21:1–29:32)
- Restoration for Judah and Israel (30:1–33:26)
- God Judges Judah (34:1–45:5)
- God’s Judgment on the Nations (46:1–51:64)
- Conclusion: The Fall of Jerusalem (52:1–34)
Israel and Judah at the Time of Jeremiah
c. 597 B.C.
The book of Jeremiah is set during the politically tumultuous times following the fall of the Assyrians and the rise of the Babylonians. During Jeremiah’s life, several groups of Judeans were deported to Babylon and the temple was destroyed. Though the precise boundaries of Judea and the surrounding regions during this period are difficult to determine, they likely resembled those that previously existed under Assyrian rule, with the exception that Edom (Idumea) was now the area formerly belonging to southern Judah.
Fact: Taking vengeance for his temple
Babylon was conquered in one night, while the king feasted in pride, using the golden vessels stolen from the temple (Daniel 5). Jeremiah sees this as the Lord taking vengeance for his temple (Jer. 50:28; 51:11).
Fact: How Babylon fell
How Babylon fell. Cyrus captured the well-fortified city of Babylon using a simple but clever plan. The Euphrates River ran directly through the city, and there were spiked gates where it entered and exited. Cyrus’s army dug canals upstream to divert the flow of the river. With the water level lowered, his soldiers slipped under the spiked gates and took the city during the night.
Fact: Ashkenaz
The Ashkenaz (51:27) were also known as the Scythians. They were nomads famed for their horseback-riding abilities. Most Scythians lived north of the Black Sea but some migrated as far away as northern Iran. It is believed that Attila the Hun was a direct descendant of the Scythians.
Fact: Sieges
Sieges were designed with one purpose in mind: to get the citizens of a city to give up without a fight. By surrounding a city, an invader could cut off not only a city’s food and water supply but also any means of escape. Once this was done, it was only a matter of time before thirst and hunger set in.
Exile to Babylon
597, 586, 582 B.C.
It appears that three separate deportations of Judeans to Babylon took place under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar (see also Jer. 52:28–30). The first came during the reign of Jehoiachin, when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and carried away many of the treasures of the temple and the royal palace. The second occurred after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., when the walls of the city were leveled and the temple was completely destroyed. The third appears to have occurred around 582 B.C. while King Nebuchadnezzar was reasserting his control over the general region of Palestine (see note on Jer. 52:28–30).
Exile to Babylon
597, 586, 582 B.C.
It appears that there were three separate deportations of Judeans to Babylon under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar (see also Jer. 52:28–30). The first came in 597 B.C. during the reign of Jehoiachin, when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and carried away many of the treasures of the temple and the royal palace. The second occurred after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., when the walls of the city were leveled and the temple was completely destroyed. The third appears to have occurred around 582 B.C. while King Nebuchadnezzar was reasserting his control over the general region of Palestine (see note on Jer. 52:28–30).
The Babylonian Empire
c. 597, 586, 582 B.C.
Jeremiah witnessed multiple deportations of many of his fellow Judeans to Babylon (see 52:28–30), which he and other prophets had foretold would happen if the people did not repent of their wickedness. Jeremiah specifically foretold that the exiles would remain in Babylon for 70 years, after which time the Lord would punish the Babylonians themselves for their wickedness (25:11–12).
Israel and Judah at the Time of Jeremiah
c. 597 B.C.
The book of Jeremiah is set during the politically tumultuous times following the fall of the Assyrians and the rise of the Babylonians. During Jeremiah’s life, several groups of Judeans were deported to Babylon and the temple was destroyed. Though the precise boundaries of Judea and the surrounding regions during this period are difficult to determine, they likely resembled those that previously existed under Assyrian rule, with the exception that Edom (Idumea) was now the area formerly belonging to southern Judah.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Oracles against the Nations in the Prophets
| Isaiah | Jeremiah | Ezekiel | Joel | Amos | Obadiah | Jonah | Nahum | Zephaniah | Zechariah* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammon | 49:1–6 | 25:1–7 | 1:13–15 | |||||||
| Arabia | 21:13–17 | |||||||||
| Assyria (Nineveh) | 10:5–19; 14:24–27 | (Nineveh) | (Nineveh) | |||||||
| Babylon | 13:1–14:23; 21:1–10; 46:1–47:15 | 50:1–51:64 | 2:9–12? | |||||||
| Damascus | 17:1–6? | 49:23–27 | 1:3–5 | 9:1 | ||||||
| Edom | 21:11–12 | 49:7–22 | 25:12–14 | 1:11–12 | 1–14? | |||||
| Egypt | 18:1–20:6 | 46:2–26 | 29:1–32:32 | |||||||
| Elam | 49:34–39 | |||||||||
| Ethiopia | 2:12–15 | |||||||||
| Gaza | 1:6–8 | 9:5 | ||||||||
| Kedar and Hazor | 49:28–33 | |||||||||
| Lebanon | 11:1–3? | |||||||||
| Moab | 15:1–16:14 | 48:1–47 | 25:8–11 | 2:1–3 | 2:8–11 | |||||
| Philistia | 14:28–32 | 47:1–7 | 25:15–17 | 3:4–8 | 2:5–7 | 9:6 | ||||
| Tyre Sidon | 23:1–18 | 26:1–28:19; 28:20–23 | 3:4–8 | 1:9–10 | 9:2–3 |
*Additional cities /states are denounced in 9:1–8: Hadrach, Aram (v. 1); Ashkelon, Ekron (v. 5); Ashdod (v. 6)
Jer. 50:1–2 Babylon is taken. Persia conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. (Isa. 13:1–14:23; 21:9). Bel was the title (“Lord”) of the chief god of Babylon, depicted as a storm god and source of life (Isa. 46:1). Merodach (Babylonian “Marduk”) was the personal name of this god.
Fact: How Babylon fell
How Babylon fell. Cyrus captured the well-fortified city of Babylon using a simple but clever plan. The Euphrates River ran directly through the city, and there were spiked gates where it entered and exited. Cyrus’s army dug canals upstream to divert the flow of the river. With the water level lowered, his soldiers slipped under the spiked gates and took the city during the night.
Jer. 50:3 In Jeremiah, trouble comes from the north (1:14). Like Judah’s cities (4:27; 10:22; 25:18; etc.), Babylon shall become a desolation (Isa. 13:9).
Jer. 50:4–5 When Babylon falls, Israel and Judah shall join together (3:6–18) to seek the LORD their God (31:9). everlasting covenant. The new covenant (32:40; see 31:31–40).
Jer. 50:7 Because their leaders (“shepherds,” v. 6) have led them astray and then forsaken them, Israel and Judah have been devoured by their foes, all of whom God has sent (27:1–15). their habitation of righteousness. God is his people’s only security (31:23) and only righteousness (23:6). the hope of their fathers. He is the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and their offspring (33:26).
Jer. 50:11–13 Babylon once rejoiced over its destruction of Judah, God’s heritage, like a calf frolicking or a stallion snorting. Soon Babylon will be ashamed and become an utter desolation (see v. 2).
Jer. 50:14–15 Just as Judah and Israel faced defeat because they sinned against the LORD, the same will happen to Babylon for the same reason. Babylon’s defeat is the vengeance of the LORD for all her oppressive ways.
Jer. 50:18 Just as God used Babylon to punish Assyria (c. 612–609 B.C.), so God will use Persia to punish Babylon (539).
Jer. 50:20 When God restores his people, no sin will be found in them, not because they have never sinned, but because he will pardon them (31:34) and purify their hearts (see Rev. 21:27).
Jer. 50:24 you did not know it. The defeat surprised Babylon. opposed the LORD. In part by crediting its success to its own power and its own gods (Isa. 10:5–19), but more significantly by not worshiping and serving the one true God.
Jer. 50:25 The armies that defeat Babylon carry the weapons of God’s wrath (v. 9; Isa. 13:1–5).
Jer. 50:26 Babylon’s dead will be piled up like heaps of grain pouring out of granaries. devote her to destruction. See note on 25:8–9.
Jer. 50:27 bulls. A technical term for choice young bulls, probably referring to Babylon’s soldiers (Isa. 34:6–7). go down to the slaughter. A picture of defeat in battle (Jer. 48:15).
Fact: Taking vengeance for his temple
Babylon was conquered in one night, while the king feasted in pride, using the golden vessels stolen from the temple (Daniel 5). Jeremiah sees this as the Lord taking vengeance for his temple (Jer. 50:28; 51:11).
Jer. 50:30 See 49:26. on that day. God’s day of judging Babylon.
Jer. 50:31 O proud one. As was true of Assyria (Isa. 10:5–34), Babylon’s pride was the cause of its downfall.
Jer. 50:32 none to raise him up. No ally will be able to deliver Babylon on the day of punishment.
Jer. 50:33 held them fast. Part of Babylon’s sin against God was its oppression of Israelite and Judean captives. Once held, they were never released. Babylon was like the pharaoh of the exodus (Ex. 5:2).
Jer. 50:34 Redeemer. A kinsman who avenged, protected, secured release, and retained property for a relative (Lev. 25:23–34, 47–55). plead their cause. Act as Israel’s advocate in a legal case. rest to the earth. From Babylon’s oppressive ways. unrest to . . . Babylon. Literally, “shake” Babylon with war and destruction.
Jer. 50:37 foreign troops. Paid foreign solders. that they may become women! That is, weak in terms of physical strength in combat. It was shameful for a nation to allow women to fight in war. See note on Nah. 3:12–13.
Jer. 50:38 Babylon’s idols will not be able to help when God dries up the nation’s waters.
Jer. 50:39–40 See Isa. 13:19–22. These verses paint a picture of defeat and desolation.
Jer. 51:9 We. Perhaps Babylon’s allies. would have healed Babylon. Would have come to her aid, but such attempts would be pointless because her sins have reached up to heaven, where God sees and judges.
Jer. 51:11 Medes. See Isa. 13:17–18. Cyrus incorporated the Medes into the Persian Empire in 550 B.C. vengeance for his temple. See Jer. 50:28.
Fact: Taking vengeance for his temple
Babylon was conquered in one night, while the king feasted in pride, using the golden vessels stolen from the temple (Daniel 5). Jeremiah sees this as the Lord taking vengeance for his temple (Jer. 50:28; 51:11).
Jer. 51:12 standard. Signal. See 4:6 and Isa. 13:2. watchmen. Persons charged with making certain that Babylon has not figured out the invader’s plan. ambushes. Intended to catch Babylon unaware as soldiers leave the city.
Jer. 51:14 sworn by himself. The highest name and authority (Isa. 45:23; 62:8; Amos 6:8; Heb. 6:13).
Jer. 51:15–19 Stated also in 10:12–16. God alone created and rules the earth. Israel forgot this and was judged; Babylon has ignored this and will be judged (Dan. 5:13–30).
Jer. 51:20–23 In the past Babylon was God’s hammer, or instrument of judgment (50:23). Now a new nation will play that role as Babylon becomes like the nations it defeated.
Jer. 51:25 As in Dan. 2:35, 44–45, Babylon is compared to a great mountain that once destroyed others but will now be destroyed. A volcano may be the basis for the metaphor, but the exact meaning is uncertain.
Fact: Ashkenaz
The Ashkenaz (51:27) were also known as the Scythians. They were nomads famed for their horseback-riding abilities. Most Scythians lived north of the Black Sea but some migrated as far away as northern Iran. It is believed that Attila the Hun was a direct descendant of the Scythians.
Jer. 51:31–32 Several messengers tell Babylon’s king the same news: the city is surrounded, the water escape routes are cut off, and the places of hiding (marshes) have been torched. No wonder the soldiers are in panic.
Jer. 51:34–35 like a monster. Though Nebuchadnezzar was sent by God against Jerusalem (27:1–15), he was unnecessarily violent and brutal in how he treated Judah (50:17–18; 51:11, 24).
Jer. 51:36 plead your cause. See 50:33–34. dry up her sea. Cut off her fertility. See 51:13.
Jer. 51:44 Bel. See note on 50:1–2. what he has swallowed. Babylon believed that its god gave its victories, but he has no power to help in its time of need. wall. The tops of Babylon’s walls were wide enough for several chariots to travel side by side.
Jer. 51:48 All of creation will sing for joy when Babylon, the great destroyer, falls.
Jer. 51:49 Babylon made other nations drink the cup of God’s wrath (25:15–25), and soon Babylon will drink the same cup (25:26).
Jer. 51:50 Remember the LORD. Israel must recall and renew its covenant with God (2:2–3; 31:31–40). The Israelites should let Jerusalem enter their thoughts and draw them home.
Jer. 51:57 make drunk. See 25:15–29; 51:38–40. the King. God, not human monarchs like Nebuchadnezzar, rules the universe (46:18).
Jer. 51:58 broad wall of Babylon. See note on v. 44. high gates. Babylon’s walls and gates were for defensive purposes, but they could not protect her in the end (v. 53). peoples labor for nothing. Humans work hard to build great cities to make names for themselves, but God rules history (45:1–5; Hab. 2:12–14).
Jer. 51:59 Seraiah the son of Neriah. Probably Baruch’s brother (32:12). went with Zedekiah. Apparently Zedekiah was summoned to Babylon to explain his questionable behavior (27:1–15). fourth year. 594–593 B.C. quartermaster. Responsible for the king’s travel arrangements.
Jer. 51:60–62 Jeremiah wrote in a book all these words concerning Babylon (most likely 50:2–51:58). read all these words. Apparently Seraiah was sent to deliver this message, as Baruch was sent in 36:1–8.
Jer. 46:1–51:64 God’s Judgment on the Nations. Jeremiah has already declared God’s sovereignty over the nations (27:1–15). Here he describes God’s coming judgment on Egypt (ch. 46), Philistia (ch. 47), Moab (ch. 48), Ammon (49:1–6), Edom (49:7–22), Damascus (49:23–33), the ends of the earth (49:34–39), and Babylon (chs. 50–51).
Jer. 51:63–64 Jeremiah’s final symbolic act (see 13:1–14; 16:1–9; 19:1–15; etc.) fulfills his initial call to be a prophet to the nations (1:5). Thus far are the words of Jeremiah indicates Jeremiah’s last words either in the whole book or in the scroll composed in 594–593 B.C.
Oracles against the Nations in the Prophets
| Isaiah | Jeremiah | Ezekiel | Joel | Amos | Obadiah | Jonah | Nahum | Zephaniah | Zechariah* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammon | 49:1–6 | 25:1–7 | 1:13–15 | |||||||
| Arabia | 21:13–17 | |||||||||
| Assyria (Nineveh) | 10:5–19; 14:24–27 | (Nineveh) | (Nineveh) | |||||||
| Babylon | 13:1–14:23; 21:1–10; 46:1–47:15 | 50:1–51:64 | 2:9–12? | |||||||
| Damascus | 17:1–6? | 49:23–27 | 1:3–5 | 9:1 | ||||||
| Edom | 21:11–12 | 49:7–22 | 25:12–14 | 1:11–12 | 1–14? | |||||
| Egypt | 18:1–20:6 | 46:2–26 | 29:1–32:32 | |||||||
| Elam | 49:34–39 | |||||||||
| Ethiopia | 2:12–15 | |||||||||
| Gaza | 1:6–8 | 9:5 | ||||||||
| Kedar and Hazor | 49:28–33 | |||||||||
| Lebanon | 11:1–3? | |||||||||
| Moab | 15:1–16:14 | 48:1–47 | 25:8–11 | 2:1–3 | 2:8–11 | |||||
| Philistia | 14:28–32 | 47:1–7 | 25:15–17 | 3:4–8 | 2:5–7 | 9:6 | ||||
| Tyre Sidon | 23:1–18 | 26:1–28:19; 28:20–23 | 3:4–8 | 1:9–10 | 9:2–3 |
*Additional cities /states are denounced in 9:1–8: Hadrach, Aram (v. 1); Ashkelon, Ekron (v. 5); Ashdod (v. 6)
Jer. 52:1 Zedekiah ruled c. 597–586 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar placed him in power to replace Jehoiachin, Zedekiah’s nephew (2 Kings 24:17). Jeremiah of Libnah. Otherwise unknown. Jeremiah the prophet, this Jeremiah, and one other person (Jer. 35:3) have the same name.
Fact: Sieges
Sieges were designed with one purpose in mind: to get the citizens of a city to give up without a fight. By surrounding a city, an invader could cut off not only a city’s food and water supply but also any means of escape. Once this was done, it was only a matter of time before thirst and hunger set in.
Jer. 52:4–6 Nebuchadnezzar punished Zedekiah’s rebellion (v. 3) by laying siege to Jerusalem (39:1–2). Because the siege lasted over a year and because of famine in the land (15:1–4), the city could hold out no longer.
Jer. 52:12 fifth month. One month after the breach in the city walls (v. 6) Nebuzaradan (39:9–10), Nebuchadnezzar’s representative, entered Jerusalem to complete its destruction.
Jer. 52:14 The Chaldean army . . . broke down all the walls, leaving the city defenseless. Nehemiah began rebuilding the walls c. 445 B.C. (Neh. 2:11–3:32).
Jer. 52:24 The temple’s chief leaders were taken into exile.
Jer. 52:25 Nebuzaradan also exiled several civic leaders. sixty men of the people of the land. Most likely leaders of various parts of Judah who took refuge in Jerusalem during the invasion.
Jer. 52:28–30 Nebuchadnezzar took captives from Judah in stages. Many people had fled to other nations (44:1, 8), and many were left in the land (ch. 40). The seventh year was c. 597 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar replaced Jehoiachin with Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17).
Exile to Babylon
597, 586, 582 B.C.
It appears that three separate deportations of Judeans to Babylon took place under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar (see also Jer. 52:28–30). The first came during the reign of Jehoiachin, when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and carried away many of the treasures of the temple and the royal palace. The second occurred after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., when the walls of the city were leveled and the temple was completely destroyed. The third appears to have occurred around 582 B.C. while King Nebuchadnezzar was reasserting his control over the general region of Palestine (see note on Jer. 52:28–30).
Exile to Babylon
597, 586, 582 B.C.
It appears that there were three separate deportations of Judeans to Babylon under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar (see also Jer. 52:28–30). The first came in 597 B.C. during the reign of Jehoiachin, when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and carried away many of the treasures of the temple and the royal palace. The second occurred after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., when the walls of the city were leveled and the temple was completely destroyed. The third appears to have occurred around 582 B.C. while King Nebuchadnezzar was reasserting his control over the general region of Palestine (see note on Jer. 52:28–30).
The Babylonian Empire
c. 597, 586, 582 B.C.
Jeremiah witnessed multiple deportations of many of his fellow Judeans to Babylon (see 52:28–30), which he and other prophets had foretold would happen if the people did not repent of their wickedness. Jeremiah specifically foretold that the exiles would remain in Babylon for 70 years, after which time the Lord would punish the Babylonians themselves for their wickedness (25:11–12).
Jer. 52:31 the exile of Jehoiachin. See vv. 1, 29; 2 Kings 24:17. Evil-merodach. Nebuchadnezzar’s successor, who reigned c. 562–560 B.C. Perhaps to show his goodwill, he treated Jehoiachin with favor.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Jer. 52:1–34 Conclusion: The Fall of Jerusalem. The book ends by describing Jerusalem’s fall and Zedekiah’s blinding (vv. 1–11), the destruction of the temple (vv. 12–23), the exiling of the people (vv. 24–30), and the continuation of the Davidic lineage (vv. 31–34). There are parallels with Jeremiah 39 and 2 Kings 24–25.
Jer. 52:32–34 Whatever Evil-merodach’s motives, Jehoiachin was treated well as long as he lived. David’s descendants, like the rest of the people, waited in exile for the 70 years to end (25:12; 29:1–14).
Israel and Judah at the Time of Jeremiah
c. 597 B.C.
The book of Jeremiah is set during the politically tumultuous times following the fall of the Assyrians and the rise of the Babylonians. During Jeremiah’s life, several groups of Judeans were deported to Babylon and the temple was destroyed. Though the precise boundaries of Judea and the surrounding regions during this period are difficult to determine, they likely resembled those that previously existed under Assyrian rule, with the exception that Edom (Idumea) was now the area formerly belonging to southern Judah.
Introduction to Jeremiah
Timeline
Author and Date
Jeremiah was called to be a prophet c. 627 B.C., when he was young (1:6). He served for more than 40 years (1:2–3). Jeremiah had a difficult life. His messages of repentance delivered at the temple were not well received (7:1–8:3; 26:1–11). His hometown plotted against him (11:18–23), and he endured much persecution (20:1–6; 37:11–38:13; 43:1–7). At God’s command, he never married (16:1–4). Although he preached God’s word faithfully, he apparently had only two converts: Baruch, his scribe (32:12; 36:1–4; 45:1–5); and Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch who served the king (38:7–13; 39:15–18). Though the book does not reveal the time or place of Jeremiah’s death, he probably died in Egypt, where he had been taken by his countrymen against his will after the fall of Jerusalem (43:1–7). He most likely did not live to see the devastation he mentions in chs. 46–51.
Purpose
Jeremiah and Baruch left a record of the difficult times in which they lived, God’s message for those times, and God’s message for the future of Israel and the nations.
Key Themes
- God and humanity. God alone is a living God. God alone made the world. All other so-called gods are mere idols (10:1–16). This Creator God called Israel to a special relationship (chs. 2–6), gave her his holy word, and promised to bless her temple with his name and presence (7:1–8:3). God rules both the present and the future (1:4–16; 29:1–10), protects his chosen ones (1:17–19; 29:11–14; 39:15–18; 45:1–5), and saves those who turn to him (12:14–17). Because God is absolutely trustworthy and always keeps his promises, his grace triumphs over sin and judgment when people repent and turn to him.
The human heart is sick, and no one except God can cure it (17:9–10). The nations worship idols instead of their Creator (10:1–16). Israel, God’s covenant people, went after other gods (chs. 2–6), defiled the temple by their unwillingness to repent (7:1–8:3; 26:1–11), and oppressed one another (34:8–16). Since Israel and the nations have sinned against God (25:1–26), God the Creator is also the Judge of every nation on the earth he created (chs. 46–51).
- Old covenant, Messiah, and new covenant. God made a covenant with Israel, based on his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12–50). As time passed, God’s covenant with Israel included his promise to David of an eternal kingdom (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17). God used Jeremiah to deliver the good news that, sometime in the future, God would “make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jer. 31:31). This covenant would be different in one major way. The new covenant partners will not break the covenant, as most of the old partners did even though God was completely faithful (31:32). Instead, the new covenant partners will have the word of God so ingrained in their hearts through God’s power that they will know and follow God all their lives (31:33–34).
Thus, all the new covenant partners will be believers who are forgiven and empowered by God; he will “remember their sin no more” (31:34). Hebrews 8:8–12 quotes Jer. 31:31–34 as evidence that the new covenant has come through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The coming of Jesus the Messiah fulfills God’s promises to Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets.
Outline
- Introduction (1:1–19)
- Israel’s Covenantal Adultery (2:1–6:30)
- False Religion and an Idolatrous People (7:1–10:25)
- Jeremiah’s Struggles with God and Judah (11:1–20:18)
- Jeremiah’s Confrontations (21:1–29:32)
- Restoration for Judah and Israel (30:1–33:26)
- God Judges Judah (34:1–45:5)
- God’s Judgment on the Nations (46:1–51:64)
- Conclusion: The Fall of Jerusalem (52:1–34)
Israel and Judah at the Time of Jeremiah
c. 597 B.C.
The book of Jeremiah is set during the politically tumultuous times following the fall of the Assyrians and the rise of the Babylonians. During Jeremiah’s life, several groups of Judeans were deported to Babylon and the temple was destroyed. Though the precise boundaries of Judea and the surrounding regions during this period are difficult to determine, they likely resembled those that previously existed under Assyrian rule, with the exception that Edom (Idumea) was now the area formerly belonging to southern Judah.
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Listen NowDive Deeper | Jeremiah 50-52
As the book of Jeremiah comes to a close, God declares judgment on the nation of Babylon for its brutality toward Judah, while simultaneously using that brutality to enact judgment on Judah for its own sins. His people have been besieged, starved, and taken into captivity, but they have also lost their way and forgotten whose they are. When the Babylonians burn and plunder the temple, where God's physical presence is said to dwell, the people must wonder if it is the end of God being with them.
In the last few verses of the book, the Babylonian king suddenly shows favor to the captive Judean king Jehoiachin, returning him to a high position and providing for his needs. The big-picture context reveals why this is significant. In 2 Samuel 7:12-16, God spoke to David through the prophet Nathan, promising David that after his death, his lineage would continue. God would discipline David's descendants when they wandered, but He would never remove his love from them, and through this line, he would establish the forever-king.
In keeping with that promise, God's restoration of Jehoiachin ensures the continuation of David's line: the eventual line of Christ. (Jehoiachin appears in the line of Jesus under a variation of his name, Jeconiah—see Matthew 1:11-12.) Although God's people are still in exile at this point in the story, he is there, demonstrating his intention to remain with and eventually restore them.
Rescue from exile is just a small part of his ultimate plan to rescue them from sin. Likewise, though the temple that Babylon destroyed would be rebuilt by Zerubbabel, God would ultimately dwell among his people again in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, and with his Spirit in them.
None of that changes the place we find Judah in the last few chapters of Jeremiah. The people are lost and scattered; Jerusalem lies in ruins. But the devastating scene takes on new meaning when set in the context of God's promise. Sometimes, just remembering the eternal perspective can give meaning to something that would otherwise seem hopeless.
This month's memory verse
"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
– Lamentations 3:21-23
Discussion Questions
1. How has God used judgment in your life to ultimately save and restore you? Has he ever done this using someone else's sin against you?
2. Does it bother you that God would use someone's sin as part of his redemptive plan? Why or why not? Where else do you see examples of this in the Bible?
3. Where do you see God's presence, even in the midst of painful or uncertain circumstances?
4. Does your heart tend to focus more on immediate circumstantial salvation or on ultimate salvation?