NOTES ON JEREMIAH

Notes from the Jewish Study Bible

For the next few days I am going to publish some notes taken from the Jewish Study Bible on Jeremaih and overlay them with their meaning from a follower of Yeshua perspective.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 1 Corinthians 15.19

The books of the prophets are types and shadows of the coming millennial kingdom. Within the historial context of Israel's rebellion and punishment we are seeing the coming end of the age. When Paul said the above quote he was looking towards the resurrection and the coming kingdom. Our present troubles are preparation for something much greater to come. As God's people we need to have a vision of the world to come in order to sustain us in times of trouble. Read on!


So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read in it in the ears of the king and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. Now the king sat in the winter house in the ninth month (Kislev/Hanukkah), and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him…when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his slaves that heard all these words.Jeremiah 36.21-24


Leadership refused to listen or fear the Lord. YHVH gave them opportunity to avoid judgment.


Jeremiah 37...focuses on Jeremiah’s imprisonment for prophesying that Babylon will assault Jerusalem and eventually destroy it. Jeremiah is considered to be a traitor and is imprisoned by King Zedekiah. Jeremiah continues to prophesy that the Chaldeans will conquer Israel if Jerusalem resists. King Zedekiah continues to seek Jeremiah’s counsel and Jeremiah continues to speak the unpopular word of the Lord. Zedekiah eases the harshness of Jeremiah’s prison surroundings, but does not release him.


Then (some princes)…heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying…the LORD said, He that remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he that goes forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey and shall live. Thus hath the LORD said, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army…Therefore the princes said unto the king…let this man be put to death: for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war that remain in this city and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them; for this man does not seek the peace of this people, but the hurt. Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand, for the king can not do any thing against you. Jeremiah 38.1-5


The princes who control weak king Zedekiah have Jeremiah arrested. They say he is bad for the moral of the city and does not seek the peace of the people. Jeremiah, however, is saying don’t resist--you will be taken captive and live. In chapter 29 the people taken captive are told by Jeremiah to pray for Babylon and that they will prosper in captivity!


Jeremiah 38.6-13...Jeremiah is lowered into a mud pit to starve to death. Ebed-melech convinces the king to pull Jeremiah up from the pit to save his life. Zedekiah tells Ebed-melech to take 30 men and go get Jeremiah out of the pit. He is put back into the prison cell.


Jeremiah 38.14-28...after Jeremiah is put back in the prison cell Zedekiah has him secretly brought to him for counsel. Jeremiah tells Zedekiah to surrender to Babylon and it will go well with him. Zedekiah hears him out but will not take the word of the Lord. Jeremiah is told not to tell anyone about this conversation.


Jeremiah 39 ...The Babylonian capture and destruction of Jerusalem appears here and in ch 52 and 2 Kings 25. Jeremiah’s words came true, thereby affirming his status as a true prophet. The city fell on the 9^th of Av.


Jeremiah is released from prison by the Babylonians and committed to the care of Gedaliah and left at liberty in a house to live among the survivors in Jerusalem. Jeremiah tells Ebed-melech, the man who saved him from the pit, that the Lord is going to spare his life for that good deed.


Jeremiah 40...The assassination of Gedaliah. The Babylonians place Gedaliah as governor of Judah. Jeremiah is freed to live where ever he wants. King Baalis of Ammon sends Ishmael to kill Gedaliah and take over Judah. Gedaliah is warned in advance but refuses to believe it is true. The Jewish fast of Gedaliah commemorates this event.


Jeremiah 41...The seventh month is Tishri. This is the month of the fall feasts of the Lord: Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. Ishmael kills Gedaliah and ten men who are with him. Two days later he kills seventy of eighty men who were fasting on their way to offer sacrifices to the Lord in what was left of Jerusalem (it was most likely the Day of Atonement). The third of Tishri is the Jewish fast of Gedaliah commemorating the death of Gedaliah.


Later Johanan hears of this crime by Ishmael and fights with and defeats Ishmael’s men. Ishmael escapes with eight men and goes to Ammon. For fear of reprisal by the Babylonians, the remaining Jews decide to flee to Egypt.