The Book of Jeremiah

Transcription

1 A Comprehensive Commentary of The Book of Jeremiah together with references for further study from the General Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the Encyclopedia of Mormonism and other doctrinal texts by General Authorities of the Church Written and compiled by Paul Nolan Hyde Parrish Press Orem, Utah

2 Copyright 2014; 2015 by Paul Nolan Hyde, Ph.D. All rights reserved. First Electronic Edition Copyright 2015 Parrish Press, Orem, Utah 1842 South 50 East Orem, Utah

3 Preface This project began as an attempt to provide my children and grandchildren something of their ancestor s love and understanding of the scriptures. I began producing volumes many years ago which I was pleased to call Paraphrastic studies. I wrote one of these studies for each of the four Gospels and the letters of Paul. Eventually, however, I began to sense that there was much that I knew about the New Testament that my translations could not communicate. I therefore thought to write a comprehensive commentary on the entire New Testament, beginning with Matthew and concluding with the book of Revelation. As I published each of the nine volumes, I included the paraphrastic studies, where I had them, in conjunction with the commentary for each book in the New Testament. I began this project in 2005 and completed the final volume in The whole effort was a delight to my soul. A year before I retired from the Church Educational System, in 2003, I thought to produce an 1830 formatting of the Book of Mormon using the present text of the 1981 edition. This was a relatively easy task, given the technology available to me. I distributed these to my colleagues at the Orem Institute of Religion, members of my family, and a few other interested parties for the cost of printing and binding them. Sometime in the early spring of 2007, I was impressed to begin a verse by verse commentary on the Book of Mormon, a task that I had not presumed to attempt, inasmuch as there are no translation difficulties that abound in the Old and New Testaments. Yet, there were instances of nineteenth-century word usage and syntactic issues that I thought a commentary might help to clarify. As I began, however, I discovered that there was much more that I could communicate to my children of my understanding of the ancient record of the Nephites, material that I had gleaned as I taught the scriptures during my thirty-five year career with CES. This labor eventually produced five volumes of moderate size. As I published each segment of the commentary, I enclosed the 1830 formatting of each book in the Book of Mormon that I had devise several years before. The last volume also appeared in late By the time that I was fully engaged with writing commentaries on both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, I had become infatuated with the idea that I might be able to expand the commentaries to include the other volumes of scripture as well. Thus, in the winter of 2010 I began writing commentaries on the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Once I finished with the Pearl of Great Price, I began to move ahead with the book of Genesis and the rest of the Old Testament. In the late fall of 2014 I finished the last of the commentaries on the Old Testament, for a total of thirty-three printed and bound volumes. With these volumes and the others produced over the past ten years, I have completed commentary on every verse of the Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My procedure for writing the Commentary was similar to that used in creating the original paraphrastic studies. The same reference texts were employed. For difficult words in Greek, Hebrew, 3

4 and English I resorted to the works of James Strong and other lexicographers for linguistic insight. I consider the contributions made by conservative Protestant scholarship (as recorded in the New International Version) and conservative Catholic scholarship (as related in the New Jerusalem Bible). I resorted to the considered thought of Adam Clarke, one of the most prominent and prolific commentators on the sacred manuscripts available at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and who, I believe, was a man of great faith. I consulted with the Joseph Smith Translation at appropriate times (including in another column an indication that a JST change had been made for any given verse), and frequently to the writings of the General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, as I contemplated the possible meanings of each word and phrase. From time to time I resorted to Smith s Bible Dictionary and Discovering the World of the Bible by LaMar Berrett for some of the more arcane information that I thought would illuminate the text. I have attempted to maintain a steady course throughout my commentaries, treating each verse as unique, and where appropriate, duplicate notes and the text rather than use cross-references within the volume. Some may find this a waste of paper and ink, but I frankly dislike having to rifle through pages or volumes trying to find the first instance of the note or commentary. The duplications are easily ignored; fumbling through pages cannot be. It is in the best interests of the reader, however, to contemplate the reasons why such duplications exist in the biblical text in the first place. They are purposeful and I have attempted to point out their purpose as I have progressed through each volume. My numbering system for the notes used in the body of the commentary was adapted from historical linguistic texts with which I am familiar and which I had found quite useful. The pattern used is Chapter.verse.word; thus note would contain material referring to the fifth word in the book of Hosea 3:4, for example. I make no comprehensive promises regarding the preciseness of my word count in any particular verse, but it will be close enough to eliminate any distressing confusion. Inasmuch as I began this series with the Gospel of Matthew, there will be times when I will make reference to my own work in that first volume. Sometimes there will be no more than a reference, MT-C ; other times I may quote directly from the original text. In either case my sole motivation will be to facilitate the flow of ideas rather than to multiply words. There are enough words already. References to the Commentaries on other books of the New Testament are abbreviated as follows: Matthew MT-C Mark MK-C Luke LK-C John JN-C Acts AC-C Romans RM-C 1 Corinthians 1 CO-C 2 Corinthians 2 CO-C Galatians GA-C Ephesians EP-C Philippians PP-C Colossians CL-C 1 Thessalonians 1 TH-C 2 Thessalonians 2 TH-C 1 Timothy 1 TM-C 2 Timothy 2 TM-C Titus TT-C Philemon PL-C Hebrews HB-C 1 Peter 1 PE-C 2 Peter 2 PE-C 1 John 1 JN-C 2 John 2 JN-C 3 John 3 JN-C Revelation RV-C 4

5 References to the Commentaries in the books of the Old Testament are as follows: Genesis GE-C Exodus EX-C Leviticus LV-C Numbers NM-C Deuteronomy DT-C Joshua JO-C Judges JD-C Ruth RU-C 1 Samuel 1 SM-C 2 Samuel 2 SM-C 1 Kings 1 KG-C 2 Kings 2 KG-C 1 Chronicles 1 CR-C 2 Chronicles 2 CR-C Ezra ER-C Nehemiah NE-C Esther ES-C Job JB-C Psalms PS-C Proverbs PV-C Ecclesiastes ES-C Song of Solomon SS-C Isaiah IS-C Jeremiah JR-C Lamentations LM-C Ezekiel EZ-C Daniel DA-C Hosiah HS-C Joel JL-C Amos AM-C Obadiah OB-C Jonah JH-C Micah MH-C Nahum NA-C Habakkuk HB-C Zephaniah ZP-C Haggai HG-C Zechariah ZE-C Malachi ML-C I have also made reference to the other standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. The references to the Book of Mormon are articulated in bold and italics lettering using the following abbreviations: 1 Nephi 1 NE-C 2 Nephi 2 NE-C Jacob JA-C Enos EN-C Jarom JM-C Omni OM-C Words of Mormon WM-C Mosiah MS-C Alma AL-C Helaman HE-C 3 Nephi 3 NE-C 4 Nephi 4 NE-C Mormon MM-C Ether ET-C Moroni MR-C The abbreviation TPW-C refers to the material found on the Title Page of the Book of Mormon and in the Testimonies of the Three and Eight Witnesses. The references to Sections that are in the Doctrine and Covenants are indicated as DC-C followed by the section number and verse (OD1-C and OD2-C are self-explanatory); The Pearl of Great Price references contained herein use the following abbreviations: MO-C, AB-C, SM-C, SH-C, and AF-C. In some cases I have taken on what some would consider controversial material. I make no apologies for so doing. I have found that my children are best served when an issue is approached head on, the differing points of view presented, and the rationale given as to why one school of thought ought to be preferred over another. Sometimes the decisions are logically founded; others the result of doctrinal points that are unique to theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In most cases I have not argued authorities, even though I could have inserted multiple references to the writings of scholars with whom I am familiar. I have chosen to have my sources on any particular issue to remain anonymous in the text of the commentary for several reasons. First and foremost, this work is my commentary, what I believe and hold to be true. In the end, that is what my children wish to know. Secondly, I did not wish to have my children accept or dismiss a particular view merely because of who had been the author of it. Many wonderful insights have been made by scholars both inside and outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wherein I have found one view to be preferable over another has not been a partisan matter, but rather a matter of the mind, heart, and spirit cooperating together in an attempt to understand what must be the truth. Thirdly, I have been quite clear who my authorities have been. It is my fondest 5

6 desire that my children would become as familiar with their writings as I have. Were I to cite all of my sources with extensive quotes from each, there would be no need for them to open any of the books that I have come to love. That, in part, is why I included the third column containing crossreferences to the various doctrinal works in the Commentaries. Exceptions to this practice should be noted as being of extreme importance. In addition to the text of the Standard Works, together with my own commentary, I inserted a column of references for further study. The citations are taken from three major sources: the Conference Reports of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from April 1980 to November 2002 (abbreviated as CR followed by the year, month and page number); the Encyclopedia of Mormonism (four volumes, abbreviated EM followed by the volume and page number); and A Scripture Index (a compilation of scripture references cited in various texts published by General Authorities of the Church). For those not familiar with the abbreviations used in A Scripture Index. I include them below: TPJS Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith GD Gospel Doctrine MA Mediation and Atonement FWR Far West Record DHC History of the Church (7 vols.) TSWK Teaching of Spencer W. Kimball MF Miracle of Forgiveness FPM Faith Precedes the Miracle MD Mormon Doctrine PM Promised Messiah MM Mortal Messiah (4 vols.) MLM Millennial Messiah DNTC Doctrinal New Testament Commentary (3 vols.) JC Jesus the Christ AF Articles of Faith DS Doctrines of Salvation (3 vols.) AGQ Answers to Gospel Questions (5 vols.) As with each of the volumes previously published, I include two lists. The first, bound in front of the Commentary, is a listing of all of the words and phrases upon which I have made extensive remarks, a kind of sequential table of contents. I have also arranged this list alphabetically and have placed it at the end of the Commentary as a kind of index. A comprehensive alphabetical index for the entire volume appears as the last section of this book. Needless to say that all of the errors in the material submitted herein to the reader are the product of my own limitations as a scholar; all of the brilliance which may appear here is the product of minds and hearts filled with the fire of the Spirit of God, from whom all truth and beauty ultimately derive. A Note on the Electronic Edition Not only did my children and other family members receive bound copies of commentaries, but there were a number of friends and neighbors who had expressed an interest in them. There were requests from others who desired copies of what I had done, but I was not in a position to provide them with hard copies. Inasmuch as I had all of the volumes in computer files, I thought to compile each of the commentaries in some format that could be read on a smart device. I opted to use the Adobe Acrobat, turning all of the work into PDF files. I have used these on my tablet for many years and have found them useful and far easier to cart about with me. In the early spring of 2015, my neighbor David Dollahite arranged for a meeting with Jack Welch and Marny Parkin regarding the possibility of BYU providing a dedicated web site so that there would be greater public access to my 6

7 work. Thus began the present enterprise of editing and standardizing all that had done during the last ten years. My commentary on the Gospel of Mark is the second of these electronic volumes. Within a year or so I hope to have all of the books available in the same format. PNH Orem, Utah November

8 8 Sequence of Specifically Noted Words and Phrases in Jeremiah Jeremiah Hilkiah priests Anathoth Benjamin Josiah Amon Judah Jehoiakim Josiah Judah Zedekiah Jerusalem fifth month prophet Jeremiah Jerusalem Judah Judah priests Jerusalem Israel Jacob Israel Egypt priests prophets Baal Chittim Kedar Israel Noph Tahapanes Egypt Sihor Assyria river nitre Baalim valley strangers Israel priests prophets Judah prophets Israel gaddest Egypt Assyria Arabian Josiah Israel Judah Israel Judah Judah Israel Judah Israel strangers Zion ark Jerusalem Judah Israel Israel Israel Israel Israel Judah Jerusalem Circumcise Judah Jerusalem Judah Jerusalem Zion Gentiles sackcloth priests prophets Jerusalem Jerusalem Dan Ephraim Jerusalem Judah Zion Jerusalem Israel Judah prophets Israel strangers Jacob Judah prophets priests Benjamin Jerusalem Tekoa Bethhaccerem Zion Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel uncircumcised prophet priest Sheba burnt offerings sacrifices Zion sackcloth Jeremiah Judah Israel Baal Shiloh Israel Shiloh Ephraim Judah Jerusalem Israel burnt offerings sacrifices Egypt burnt offerings sacrifices Egypt prophets Jerusalem Judah Tophet Hinnom Tophet Hinnom carcases Judah Jerusalem Judah priests

9 prophets Jerusalem Jerusalem turtle prophet priests Dan Zion Gilead Jerusalem dragons Judah Baalim Israel wormwood gall Zion carcases circumcised Egypt Judah Edom Ammon Moab uncircumcised Israel Tarshish Uphaz blue purple Jacob Israel Judah dragons Jacob Jeremiah Judah Jerusalem Israel Egypt Judah Jerusalem Egypt Judah Jerusalem Israel Judah Judah Jerusalem Judah Jerusalem Baal Israel Judah Baal Anathoth Anathoth Jordan Israel Judah Baal linen Euphrates Euphrates Euphrates Euphrates Judah Jerusalem Israel Judah Israel David s priests prophets Jerusalem Judah Ethiopian Jerusalem Jeremiah Judah Jerusalem dragons Israel burnt offering prophets prophets prophets Jerusalem prophet priests Judah Zion Gentiles Moses Samuel Manasseh Hezekiah Judah Jerusalem Jerusalem steel brasen carcases Israel Israel Egypt Israel carcases Gentiles Judah partridge Israel Judah Jerusalem Judah Jerusalem Jerusalem David Judah Jerusalem Judah Jerusalem Benjamin burnt offerings sacrifices meat offerings incense Jerusalem Jeremiah Israel Judah Jerusalem Israel Lebanon Jeremiah priest prophet priests Hinnom east gate Judah Jerusalem Israel Judah Baal Tophet Hinnom Judah Jerusalem carcases Tophet Tophet Jerusalem Judah Tophet Jeremiah Tophet Israel Pashur Immer priest Jeremiah Pashur Jeremiah prophet

10 Benjamin Pashur Jeremiah Magormissabib Judah Babylon Judah Babylon Pashur Babylon deceived Jeremiah Zedekiah Pashur Melchiah Zephaniah Maaseiah priest Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Jeremiah Zedekiah Israel Babylon Chaldeans Zedekiah Judah Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Chaldeans Babylon Judah David Judah Judah David stranger David Judah Gilead Lebanon Shallum Josiah Judah Jehoiakim Josiah Judah Jerusalem Lebanon Bashan Lebanon Coniah Jehoiakim Judah Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Chaldeans Coniah David Judah Israel David Branch King Judah Israel Israel Egypt Israel prophets prophet priest prophets Samaria Baal Israel prophets Jerusalem Sodom Gomorrah prophets wormwood gall Jerusalem prophets prophets prophets prophets Baal prophet prophets prophets prophet priest prophet priest prophet Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Jeconiah Jehoiakim Judah Jerusalem Jeremiah Israel Judah Chaldeans Zedekiah Judah Jerusalem Egypt Jeremiah Judah Jehoiakim Josiah Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Jeremiah prophet Judah Jerusalem Josiah Amon Judah prophets Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Babylon Babylon Chaldeans Jeremiah Israel Jerusalem Judah Pharaoh Egypt Uz Philistines Ashkelon Azzah Ekron Ashdod Edom Moab Ammon Tyrus Zidon sea Dedan Tema Buz Arabia Zimri Elam Medes Sheshach Israel Jehoiakim Josiah Judah Judah this house Shiloh priests prophets

11 Jeremiah Jeremiah priests prophets this house Shiloh Jeremiah Judah priests prophets Jeremiah this house priests prophets Micah Morasthite Hezekiah Judah Zion Jerusalem Hezekiah Judah Urijah Shemaiah Kirjathjearim Jeremiah Jehoiakim Urijah Egypt Jehoiakim Egypt Elnathan Achbor Urijah Egypt Jehoiakim Ahikam Shaphan Jeremiah Jehoiakim Josiah Judah Jeremiah Edom Moab Ammonites Tyrus Zidon Jerusalem Zedekiah Judah Israel Nebuchadnezzar Babylon Nebuchadnezzar Babylon prophets Babylon Babylon Zedekiah Judah Babylon Babylon prophets Babylon prophets priests prophets Babylon Babylon prophets house Judah Jerusalem Babylon pillars sea bases Nebuchadnezzar Babylon Jeconiah Jehoiakim Judah Jerusalem Israel house Judah Jerusalem Babylon Zedekiah Judah fifth month Hananiah Azur prophet Gibeon priests Israel Babylon Nebuchadnezzar Babylon Jeconiah Jehoiakim Judah Babylon prophet Jeremiah prophet Hananiah priests prophet Jeremiah Babylon prophets prophet Hananiah prophet prophet Jeremiah s Hananiah Nebuchadnezzar Babylon prophet Jeremiah Jeremiah prophet Hananiah prophet Hananiah Israel Nebuchadnezzar Babylon prophet Jeremiah Hananiah prophet Hananiah prophet seventh month Jeremiah prophet Jerusalem priests prophets Nebuchadnezzar Babylon Jeconiah Judah T Jerusalem Elasah Shaphan Gemariah Hilkiah Zedekiah Judah Babylon Nebuchadnezzar Israel Jerusalem Babylon Israel prophets Babylon prophets Babylon

12 David prophets Jerusalem Babylon Israel Ahab Kolaiah Zedekiah Maaseiah Nebuchadnezzar Babylon Judah Babylon Zedekiah Ahab Israel Shemaiah Nehelemite Israel Jerusalem Zephaniah Maaseiah priest priest Jehoiada prophet Jeremiah Anathoth prophet Babylon Zephaniah priest Jeremiah prophet Jeremiah Shemaiah Nehelemite Shemaiah Nehelemite Jeremiah Israel Israel Judah Israel Judah Jacob s strangers David Jacob Israel Zion Jacob s Israel Israel tabrets Samaria Ephraim Zion Jacob Israel Israel Ephraim Israel Jacob Zion priests Ramah Rachel Ephraim Ephraim Israel Israel Judah Judah Israel Judah Israel Judah Egypt Israel Israel Israel Hananeel Gareb Goath Kidron Jeremiah Zedekiah Judah Nebuchadrezzar Babylon s Jerusalem Jeremiah prophet Israel Judah s Zedekiah Judah Babylon Zedekiah Judah Chaldeans Babylon Zedekiah Babylon Chaldeans Jeremiah Hanameel Shallum Anathoth Hanameel Anathoth Benjamin Hanameel Anathoth shekels Baruch Neriah Maaseiah Hanameel Jews Baruch Israel Israel Baruch Neriah Egypt Israel Israel Egypt Chaldeans Chaldeans Jeremiah Chaldeans Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Chaldeans Baal Israel Judah Israel Judah priests prophets Jerusalem Baal Hinnom Molech Judah Israel Babylon Chaldeans Benjamin Jerusalem Judah Jeremiah Israel Judah Chaldeans Judah Israel Judah Jerusalem Benjamin Jerusalem

13 Judah Israel Judah Branch David Judah Jerusalem David Israel priests Levites burnt offerings meat offerings sacrifices Jeremiah David Levites priests David Levites Jeremiah Jacob David Abraham Isaac Jeremiah Nebuchadnezzar Babylon Jerusalem Israel Zedekiah Judah Babylon Babylon Zedekiah Judah Jeremiah prophet Zedekiah Judah Jerusalem Babylon s Jerusalem Judah Lachish Azekah Jeremiah Zedekiah Jerusalem Hebrew Jeremiah Israel Hebrew Judah Jerusalem Zedekiah Judah Babylon s Judah Jeremiah Jehoiakim Josiah Judah Rechabites Jaazaniah Jeremiah Habaziniah Rechabites Hanan Igdaliah Maaseiah Shallum Rechabites Jonadab Rechab strangers Jonadab Rechab Jonadab Nebuchadnezzar Babylon Jerusalem Chaldeans Jeremiah Israel Judah Jerusalem Jonadab Rechab prophets Jonadab Rechab Israel Judah Jerusalem Jeremiah Rechabites Israel Jonadab Israel Jonadab Rechab Jehoiakim Josiah Judah Jeremiah Israel Judah Josiah Judah Jeremiah Baruch Neriah Jeremiah Baruch Judah Baruch Neriah Jeremiah prophet Jehoiakim Josiah Judah ninth month Jerusalem Baruch Jeremiah Gemariah Shaphan scribe Michaiah Gemariah Shaphan scribe s Elishama Delaiah Shemaiah Elnathan Achbor Gemariah Shaphan Zedekiah Hananiah Michaiah Baruch Jehudi Nethaniah Shelemiah Cushi Baruch Neriah Baruch Baruch Baruch Baruch Baruch Jeremiah Elishama scribe Jehudi Elishama scribe s ninth month Jehudi Elnathan

14 Delaiah Gemariah Jerahmeel Hammelech Seraiah Azriel Shelemiah Abdeel Baruch scribe Jeremiah prophet Jeremiah Baruch Jehoiakim Judah Jehoiakim Judah Babylon Jehoiakim Judah David Jerusalem Judah Jeremiah Baruch scribe Neriah Jehoiakim Judah Zedekiah Josiah Coniah Jehoiakim Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Judah prophet Jeremiah Zedekiah Jehucal Shelemiah Zephaniah Maaseiah priest prophet Jeremiah Jeremiah Pharaoh s Egypt Chaldeans Jerusalem prophet Jeremiah Israel Judah Pharaoh s Egypt Chaldeans Chaldeans Chaldeans Chaldeans Jerusalem Pharaoh s Jeremiah Jerusalem Benjamin Benjamin Irijah Shelemiah Hananiah Jeremiah prophet Chaldeans Jeremiah Chaldeans Irijah Jeremiah Jonathan scribe Jeremiah Zedekiah Jeremiah Babylon Jeremiah Zedekiah prophets Babylon Jonathan scribe Zedekiah Jeremiah Shephatiah Mattan Gedaliah Pashur Jucal Shelemiah Pashur Malchiah Jeremiah Chaldeans Babylon s Zedekiah Jeremiah Malchiah Hammelech Ebedmelech Ethiopian eunuchs Jeremiah Benjamin Ebedmelech Jeremiah prophet Ebedmelech Ethiopian Jeremiah prophet Ebedmelech Jeremiah Ebedmelech Ethiopian Jeremiah Jeremiah Zedekiah Jeremiah prophet Jeremiah Zedekiah Zedekiah Jeremiah Jeremiah Zedekiah Israel Babylon s Babylon s Chaldeans Zedekiah Jeremiah Jews Chaldeans Jeremiah Judah s Babylon s Chaldeans Babylon Zedekiah Jeremiah Jonathan s Jeremiah Jeremiah Zedekiah Judah tenth month Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Jerusalem Zedekiah fourth month Babylon Nergalsharezer Samgarnebo Sarsechin Rabsaris

15 Nergalsharezer Rabmag Zedekiah Judah Chaldeans Zedekiah Jericho Nebuchadnezzar Babylon Riblah Hamath Babylon Zedekiah Riblah Judah Zedekiah s Babylon Chaldeans Jerusalem Nebuzaradan Babylon Nebuzaradan Judah Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Jeremiah Nebuzaradan Nebuzaradan Nebushasban Rabsaris Nergalsharezer Rabmag Babylon s Jeremiah Gedaliah Ahikam Shaphan Jeremiah Ebedmelech Ethiopian Israel Jeremiah Nebuzaradan Ramah Jerusalem Judah Babylon Jeremiah Babylon Gedaliah Ahikam Shaphan Babylon Judah Jeremiah Gedaliah Ahikam Mizpah Babylon Gedaliah Ahikam Gedaliah Mizpah Ishmael Nethaniah Johanan Jonathan Kareah Seraiah Tanhumeth Ephai Netophathite Jezaniah Maachathite Gedaliah Ahikam Shaphan Chaldeans Babylon Mizpah Chaldeans Jews Moab Ammonites Edom Babylon Judah Gedaliah Ahikam Shaphan Jews Judah Gedaliah Mizpah Johanan Kareah Gedaliah Mizpah Baalis Ammonites Ishmael Nethaniah Gedaliah Ahikam Johanan Kareah Gedaliah Mizpah Ishmael Nethaniah Jews Judah Gedaliah Ahikam Johanan Kareah Ishmael seventh month Ishmael Nethaniah Elishama Gedaliah Ahikam Mizpah Ishmael Nethaniah Gedaliah Ahikam Shaphan Babylon Ishmael Jews Gedaliah Mizpah Chaldeans Gedaliah Shechem Shiloh Ishmael Jews Nethaniah Mizpah Gedaliah Ahikam Ishmael Nethaniah Ishmael Ishmael Gedaliah Asa Baasha Israel Nethaniah Ishmael Mizpah Nebuzaradan Gedaliah Ahikam Nethaniah Ammonites Johanan Kareah Ishmael Nethaniah Ishmael

16 Nethaniah Gibeon Ishmael Johanan Kareah Ishmael Mizpah Johanan Kareah Ishmael Nethaniah Johanan Ammonites Johanan Kareah Ishmael Nethaniah Mizpah Gedaliah Ahikam Gibeon Chimham Bethlehem Egypt Chaldeans Ishmael Nethaniah Gedaliah Ahikam Babylon Johanan Kareah Jezaniah Hoshaiah Jeremiah prophet Jeremiah prophet Jeremiah Jeremiah Johanan Kareah Israel Babylon Egypt Judah Israel Egypt Egypt Egypt Israel Jerusalem Egypt Judah Egypt Jeremiah Azariah Hoshaiah Johanan Kareah Jeremiah Egypt Baruch Neriah Chaldeans Babylon Johanan Kareah Judah Johanan Kareah Judah Nebuzaradan Gedaliah Ahikam Shaphan Jeremiah prophet Baruch Neriah Egypt Tahpanhes Jeremiah Tahpanhes Pharaoh s Tahpanhes Judah Israel Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Egypt Egypt Bethshemesh Egypt Jeremiah Jews Egypt Migdol Tahpanhes Noph Pathros Israel Jerusalem Judah prophets Judah Jerusalem Israel Judah Egypt Judah Jerusalem statutes Israel Judah Judah Egypt Egypt Jerusalem Judah Egypt Egypt Pathros Jeremiah Judah Jerusalem Jeremiah Judah Jerusalem statutes Jeremiah Judah Egypt Israel Judah Egypt Judah Egypt Egypt Judah Pharaohhophra Egypt Zedekiah Judah Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Jeremiah prophet Baruch Neriah Jehoiakim Josiah Judah Israel Baruch Jeremiah prophet Gentiles Egypt Pharaohnecho Euphrates Carchemish Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Jehoiakim

17 Josiah Judah brigandines Euphrates Egypt Ethiopians Libyans Lydians Euphrates Gilead Egypt Jeremiah prophet Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Egypt Egypt Migdol Noph Tahpanhes Pharaoh Egypt Tabor Carmel Egypt Noph Egypt Egypt Israel No Pharaoh Egypt Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Jacob Israel Jacob Jeremiah prophet Philistines Pharaoh Gaza Philistines Tyrus Zidon Caphtor Gaza Ashkelon Ashkelon Moab Israel Nebo Kiriathaim Misgab Moab Heshbon Madmen Horonaim Moab Luhith Horonaim Chemosh Moab Moab Moab Chemosh Israel Bethel Moab Moab Dibon Moab Aroer Moab Arnon Holon Jahazah Mephaath Dibon Nebo Bethdiblathaim Kiriathaim Bethgamul Bethmeon Kerioth Bozrah Moab Moab Moab Israel Moab Moab Moab Kirheres Sibmah Jazer Moab Heshbon Elealeh Jehaz Zoar Horonaim heifer Nimrim Moab Moab Kirheres sackcloth Moab Moab Moab Kerioth Moab Moab Moab Moab Heshbon Sihon Moab Moab Chemosh Moab Ammonites Israel Gad Rabbah Ammonites Heshbon Ai Rabbah sackcloth Ammon Edom Teman Dedan Esau Esau Bozrah Edom Sodom Gomorrah Jordan Edom Teman Red sea Bozrah Edom Damascus Hamath Arpad Damascus Damascus Benhadad Kedar Hazor Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Hazor Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Hazor dragons Jeremiah prophet Elam

18 Zedekiah Judah Elam Elam Elam Elam Elam Babylon Chaldeans Jeremiah prophet Babylon Bel Merodach Israel Judah Zion Babylon Chaldeans Babylon Chaldea Babylon Babylon Babylon Israel Assyria Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Israel Babylon Assyria Israel Carmel Bashan Ephraim Gilead Israel Judah Merathaim Pekod Babylon Babylon Chaldeans Babylon Zion Babylon Israel Israel Judah Babylon Chaldeans Babylon Sodom Gomorrah Babylon Babylon Jordan Babylon Chaldeans Babylon Babylon Babylon brigandine Chaldeans Israel Judah Babylon Babylon Babylon Babylon Zion Medes Babylon Babylon Jacob Israel Babylon Chaldea Zion Ararat Minni Ashchenaz Medes Babylon Babylon forborn Babylon Israel Babylon Nebuchadrezzar Babylon dragon Babylon Zion Chaldea Jerusalem Babylon dragons Sheshach Babylon Babylon Bel Babylon Babylon Babylon Babylon Israel Jerusalem Babylon Babylon Chaldeans Babylon Babylon Babylon Jeremiah prophet Seraiah Neriah Maaseiah Zedekiah Judah Babylon Jeremiah Babylon Jeremiah Seraiah Babylon Euphrates Babylon Jeremiah Zedekiah Jerusalem Hamutal Jeremiah Libnah Jehoiakim Jerusalem Judah Zedekiah Babylon tenth month Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Jerusalem Zedekiah fourth month Chaldees Chaldees Zedekiah Jericho Babylon Riblah Hamath Babylon Zedekiah Judah Riblah Zedekiah Babylon fifth month Nebuchadrezzar Babylon Nebuzaradan Jerusalem Jerusalem

19 Chaldees Jerusalem Nebuzaradan Babylon Nebuzaradan pillars brass brasen sea Chaldees Babylon shovels snuffers spoons brass firepans bowls candlesticks spoons pillars sea brasen bases Solomon pillars cubits fillet chapiter brass cubits Seraiah priest Zephaniah eunuch Nebuzaradan Babylon Riblah Babylon Riblah Hamath Judah Nebuchadrezzar Jews Nebuchadrezzar Jerusalem Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzaradan Jews Jehoiachin Judah twelfth month Evilmerodach Babylon Babylon Babylon

20 A Commentary on the Scriptures by Paul Nolan Hyde, Ph.D. The Book of Jeremiah 0.0 The prophetic books of the Old Testament are divided into two major sections: the first, consisting of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel; the second, a gathering of the writings of twelve prophets, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The first part is usually referred to as the Major Prophets and the second as the Minor Prophets. Scholars assure us that these titles have nothing to do with the quality of the writing, but rather have to do with the relative lengths of the books in each section. Thus, we may easily see that the writings Isaiah and Jeremiah are each longer than the combined writings of the Twelve. The books of Ezekiel and Daniel together are as long as the second section of the prophetic works. Historians have suggested additionally that when the Old Testament was compiled, the twelve prophets were all committed to one scroll and therefore became a single unit. Jer. DS DS EM 1:32 EM 2:721, 765 EM 3:1166, Of all of the prophetic writers in the Old Testament, Jeremiah provides as much or more than any of the others about himself. He hailed from the tribe of Levi and was a direct descendant of Aaron. His ancestral home was in Anathoth in the tribal inheritance of Benjamin. His father was Hilkiah who hailed from that same place, but not to be confused with the many other characters of the Old Testament who bore the same name. His life was filled with adversity as he testified against the wickedness of the people of the kingdom of Judah. He was an active witness of the spiritual decline of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and environs. When the city and the Temple were destroyed and many of the people carried off into Babylon, he remained behind and was closely associated with Gedaliah, the Jewish governor left in charge when Nebuchadnezzar returned home. Tradition holds that when Gedaliah was assassinated, that the murderers escaped to Egypt taking Jeremiah with them. The same tradition states that Jeremiah was unrelenting in his condemnation of the apostates and was eventually stoned to death for his testimony. 0.3 Jeremiah began his ministry as a relatively young man in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, king of Judah. This would have been about 3,252 after our first parents entered into the lone and dreary world, or about the year 631 BC. He was probably no more than thirty years of age when he was called to be the major prophet of his day. If so, he would have been born about the Adamic year 3222, or about 661 BC. Throughout the text of the book of Jeremiah there are no less than twenty other chronological references. Each will be addressed in its turn in the commentary below. The second temporal reference for Jeremiah s ministry in the first chapter of his prophecy is the reign of Jehoiakim, elsewhere called Eliakim, who reigned between 3270 and 3281, or 613 BC to 602 BC. The third reference from the first chapter of the text mentions to the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, who was carried away about the Adamic year 3292, or about the year 591 BC. Again, there are several other dates given throughout Jeremiah s work. The murder of Gedaliah took place within a few months of the fall of Jerusalem. The assassins flight into Egypt would have taken place about the same time, when Jeremiah would have been about seventy years old. He purportedly died there sometime after 3293, or about the year 590 BC. The following chronological charts puts these major events in to their proper order. 20

21 Ad. Yr Cal.Yr. Event Scripture BC Manasseh born 2 Kgs. 21: BC Hezekiah dies 2 Kgs. 18: BC Manasseh becomes king 2 Kgs. 21: BC Manasseh goes to Babylon 2 Chr. 33: BC Manasseh returns from Babylon 2 Chr. 33: BC Amon born 2 Kgs. 21: BC Jeremiah born (?) BC Josiah born 2 Kgs. 22: BC Manasseh dies 2 Kgs. 21: BC Amon becomes king 2 Kgs 21: BC Amon assassinated 2 Kgs. 21: BC Josiah becomes king 2 Kgs. 21: BC Zephaniah prophecies (?) BC Josiah seeks righteousness 2 Chr. 34: BC Josiah purges Judea of idolatry 2 Chr BC Jeremiah begins his ministry Jer. 1: BC Josiah begins repairs on Temple 2 Chr. 34: BC Josiah celebrates the Passover 2 Kgs. 23: BC Zedekiah born 2 Kgs. 24: BC Jehoiachin born 2 Kgs. 24: BC Josiah dies 2 Kgs. 22: BC Jehoahaz becomes king 2 Kgs. 23: BC Eliakim appointed king by Necho 2 Kgs. 23: BC Nebuchadnezzar ascends throne Jer. 25: BC Obadiah prophesies (?) BC Jeremiah testifies Jer. 25: BC Eliakim s reign ends 2 Kgs. 23: BC Jehoiachin becomes king 2 Kgs. 24: BC Zedekiah becomes king 2 Kgs. 24: BC Lehi begins ministry 1 Ne. 1: BC Lehi departs Jerusalem 1 Ne. 2: BC Jerusalem destroyed 2 Kgs. 25: BC Jeremiah taken to Egypt BC Jehoiachin brought from prison 2 Kgs. 25: BC Cyrus ends the Babylonian Captivity 2 Chr. 36: The prophet Lehi, among others, was one of Jeremiah s contemporaries in Jerusalem just prior to the devastation that would be poured out upon the city by the Babylonians. His divinely mandated flight into the wilderness preserved him, his family, and the family of Ishmael from destruction. Zephaniah and Obadiah were clearly contemporaries of Jeremiah as well, the former begin his ministry about the Adamic year 3240, or 643 BC, and the latter about 3,274 years after our first parents departed from the Garden of Eden, or about 609 BC. 0.5 Having once made a running commentary on all of the prophets in the last section of the Old Testament, it seemed right to make an assessment as to when these men must have lived and when the ministries took place in relation to each other. The following chart is a compilation of the conclusions made for each of the prophets from Isaiah to Malachi. Everyone is free to quibble, but a perusal of the arguments given in the introductory material for each of the books should be sufficient to establish that the assertions at least have some merit. 21