Jeremiah Overview and Outline

AUTHOR: Jeremiah

DATE: 627-585 B.C.

Jeremiah is often called the “weeping prophet” (Jer 9:1; 13:17) or the “prophet of loneliness” because he was commanded not to marry, Jer16:2. Jeremiah is also the “reluctant prophet” (1:6), yet for more than 40 years he faithfully proclaimed God’s judgment on apostate Judah and endured opposition, beatings, and imprisonment for his unpopular message from God (Jer 11:18-23; 12:6; 18:18; 20:1-3; 26:1-24; 37:11-38:28).

Jeremiah began his ministry at about the age of 20 under good King Josiah.  After Josiah’s death, the people opposed and persecuted Jeremiah.  He barely escaped arrest. He was forbidden to go to the Temple.  And he had to deputize Baruch, his secretary, to deliver his prophecies. King Jehoiakim destroyed Jeremiah’s written prophecies, which Jeremiah faithfully rewrote (Jer 36:22ff.). King Zedekiah permitted nationalistic-minded nobles to imprison Jeremiah, but then reduced the punishment.

When the armies of Nebuchadnezzar sieged Jerusalem in 586 B.C., Jeremiah was freed and given the choice of going to Babylon or remaining in Jerusalem. Jeremiah chose to remain in Jerusalem but was soon abducted and taken to Egypt by Jews who fled there rather than face Nebuchadnezzar. In Egypt, Jeremiah prophesied a few more years.  He apparently died there.

Sensitive and sympathetic by nature, Jeremiah was commanded by God to deliver a very stern and unpopular message of judgment. The opposition he faced was cruel and crushing.  It caused Jeremiah, more than once, to want to resign from his office as prophet, yet he continued faithfully in his calling to proclaim God’s Word.

A Chronology of the Times

• 627 Jeremiah called of God. Judah under tribute to Assyria, whose power was beginning to wane.
• 612 Nineveh, capital of Assyria, sacked.
• 609 King Josiah killed at Megiddo by Neco of Egypt, who was fighting to bolster Assyria (2 Kings 23:29-30).
• 609 Jehoahaz ruled Judah for three months before being deposed by Neco and taken to Egypt in chains (2 Kings 23:32-33; cf. Jer. 22:10).
• 609-598 Jehoiakim reigned over Judah as an Egyptian vassal (Jer. 22:13-17).
• 605 Battle of Carchemish, where Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egyptian forces (Jer. 46:2). Nebuchadnezzar entered Palestine and took Daniel and others hostage (2 Kings 24:1). Jehoiakim abandoned Egyptian suzerainty and became a vassal of Babylon.
• 601 Jehoiakim sided with Egypt again against Jeremiah’s warnings (Jer. 22:13-19).
• 597 Jehoiakim died (either late in 598 or early in 597). Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and deported King Jehoiachin, replacing him with Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17).
• 586 Nebuchadnezzar again occupied Jerusalem because Zedekiah had entered into negotiations with Egypt (2 Kings 25:1-7). Gedaliah appointed governor of Judah (2 Kings 25:22-26). Gedaliah assassinated. Jeremiah taken to Egypt.

It should be noted that the arrangement of the prophecies in the Book of Jeremiah is not chronological. The following chart attempts to place some of the oracles against their historical background, indicated by the ruling king of Judah.

• Josiah 1-6
• Jehoahaz (Shallum) 22:10-12
• Jehoiakim 7-20; 25; 26; 35; 36; 45; 46:1-12; 47-49
• Jehoiachin 22-23
• Zedekiah chaps. 21; 24; 27-34; 37-39
• Gedaliah 40-44

Warnings against sin and judgment are paramount throughout the book, but so also is the message of hope and restoration. Important prophecies include the curse on Jehoiachin (Jer 22:30), the prediction of the Messiah (Jer 23:5-6), the duration of the Babylonian captivity (Jer 25:11), and the revelation of the new covenant (Jer 31:31-34). The concept of backsliding or unfaithfulness is prominent, and there are more references to Babylon (164 times) in Jeremiah than in the rest of the Bible together.

M. Judah’s Reaction to Jeremiah’s Ministry, 26:1-24
N. Judah’s Advice from Jeremiah: Submit to Nebuchadnezzar, 27:1-29:32

1. Sign of the yokes, 27:1-22
2. Opposition of a false prophet, 28:1-17
3. Letter to Jews in captivity, 29:1-3

O. Judah’s Hope of Restoration, 30:1-33:26

1. The promise declared: restoration after tribulation, 30:1-31:26
2. The promise covenanted: the new covenant, 31:27-40
3. The promise illustrated: a field bought, 32:1-44
4. The promise reaffirmed: the Davidic covenant, 33:1-26

P. Events Before the Fall of Jerusalem, 34:1-38:28

1. Message to Zedekiah, 34:1-7
2. Message to the people, 34:8-22
3. Message concerning the Rechabites, 35:1-19
4. Jehoiakim burns Jeremiah’s scroll, 36:1-32
5. Jeremiah imprisoned, 37:1-38:28

Q. The Fall of Jerusalem, 39:1-18

1. The fate of the Jews, 39:1-10
2. The fate of Jeremiah, 39:11-18

R. Events After the Fall of Jerusalem, 40:1-45:5

1. Jeremiah ministers to Jews in Palestine, 40:1-42:22
2. Jeremiah ministers to Jews in Egypt, 43:1-44:30
3. Jeremiah ministers to Baruch, 45:1-5

III. Prophecies Concerning the Nations, 46:1-51:64

A. Prophecies Against Egypt, 46:1-28
B. Prophecies Against the Philistines, 47:1-7
C. Prophecies Against Moab, 48:1-47
D. Prophecies Against Ammon, 49:1-6
E. Prophecies Against Edom, 49:7-22
F. Prophecies Against Damascus, 49:23-27
G. Prophecies Against Arabia, 49:28-33
H. Prophecies Against Elam, 49:34-39
I. Prophecies Against Babylon, 50:1-51:64

IV. Historical Supplement, 52:1-34

A. The Fate of Jerusalem, 52:1-23
B. The Fate of Certain People, 52:24-34

Videos and Charts Used By Permission of the Bible Project