Book of Jeremiah

This book of the Bible consists of 23 separate and independent sections, arranged in 5 books.

  1. The introduction

    1. chapter 1

  2. Reproofs of the sins of the Jews, consisting of seven sections:

    1. chapter 2
    2. chapters 3-6
    3. chapters 7-10
    4. chapters 11-13
    5. chapter 14-17:18
    6. 17:19-chapter 20
    7. chapters 21-24

  3. A general review of all nations, in two sections:

    1. chapters 46-49
    2. chapters 25

    with an historical appendix of three sections:

    1. chapters 26
    2. chapters 27
    3. chapters 28, 29

  4. Two sections picturing the hopes of better times:

    1. chapters 30 and 31
    2. chapters 32 and 33

    to which is added an historical appendix in 3 sections

    1. 34:1-7
    2. 34:8-22
    3. chapter 35

  5. The conclusion, in 2 sections:

    1. chapter 36
    2. chapter 45

In Egypt, after an interval, Jeremiah is supposed to have added three sections—chapters 37-39; 40-43; and 44.

The principal Messianic prophecies are found in Jeremiah 23:1-8; 31:31-40; and 33:14-26.

Jeremiah’s prophecies are noted for the frequent repetitions found in them of the same words and phrases and imagery. They cover a period of about 30 years. They are not recorded in the order of time. When and under what circumstances this book assumed its present form, we know not.

The Septuagint Version of this book is, in its arrangement and in other particulars, singularly at variance with the original. The Septuagint omits 10:6-8; 27:19-22; 29:16-20; 33:14-26; 39:4-13; 52:2-3, 15, 28-30, etc. About 2,700 words in all of the original are omitted. These omissions, etc., are capricious and arbitrary, and render the version unreliable.

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Article Version: September 24, 2024