- 1 - The LORD called Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah in Benjamin during year 13 of King Josiah's reign. The LORD consecrated him before he was born to be a prophet. Jeremiah thought he was too young, but He put His words in his word. He foretold a disaster coming from the north because they worshiped other gods. He told him to say everything commanded of him and not be afraid.
- 2 - Jeremiah was to proclaim to Jerusalem that they were once devoted but now even the governors, shepherds, and prophets do not know the LORD. They went after worthless Baal idols and only to act innocent and turn to Him in times of need. They forsake the fountain of living waters and hew out broken cisterns.
- 3 - Israel acted so faithlessly as whore with idols that the LORD divorced her, and Judah saw and did the same thing. Israel didn't hide her adultery and showed herself more righteous than Judah who did. the LORD will not be angry and provide shepherds after His own heart, if they acknowledge their guilt and rebellion. In the future, the ark of the covenant of the LORD shall not come to mind, be missed, or be remade. Jerusalem shall be the throne of the LORD, all nations shall gather to it, and Judah and Israel's houses shall rejoin and return to their fathers' land, the land they lost for their disobedience to the LORD's voice.
- 10 - The LORD says to Jeremiah not to learn the ways of the nations for their customs are vanity. They decorate trees that cannot walk or speak. Jeremiah exalts Him as wiser than idols made by skilled craftsmen. The gods who did not make the heavens and earth shall perish, as will goldsmiths. God is bringing captivity and distress from the north to make Judah's cities a desolate jackal lair. The shepherds do not inquire of the LORD.
- 31 - Joy comes in the morning
- 41 - Gedaliah the son of Ahikam was murdered by Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, sent by Baalis the king of the Ammonites. Temple worshippers from afar came to offer sacrifices, and Ishmael killed many of them, too. Johanan the son of Kareah assembled defecting leaders of the forces and captives and fled to Geruth Chimham then Egypt before the Chaldeans retaliated to their installed governor's murder.
- 42 - The leaders of the forces and the greatest to least of the people came to Jeremiah and asked him to pray, willing the LORD to be a true and faithful witness against them if they disobey, whether His words be good or bad. After 10 days, He responded that he relents of the disaster, and the king of Babylon will show mercy to them. If they remain in this land, He will build them up and not pull them down; plant them and not pluck them up. If they go to Egypt instead, they shall become an execration and die by sword, famine, and pestilence.
- 43 - All the insolent men insisted Jeremiah was lying and was sent by Baruch the son of Neriah to deliver them into death or exile in Babylon. All the commanders of the forces took the remnant of Judah into Egypt at Tahpanhes. God told Jeremiah there to hide large stones in the mortar in the pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace and tell Judah that he will place Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon's throne above them. He will bring pestilence, captivity, and sword. He will burn the Egyptian idols and their temples and break the obelisks of Heliopolis.
- 44 - The word of the LORD concerning all Judeans who lived in Egypt at Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and Pathros, was that they saw the disaster because of their offering and service to other gods and their denial of prophets' warnings. The people in Pathros rejected Jeremiah and credited drink and cake offerings to the queen of heaven for good times. Jeremiah responds with the LORD's words that His name would no longer be invoked by Judah, and they will face disaster, sword, famine, and virtually no escape back home. The remnant will see whose word stands. Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt will fall like Zedekiah king of Judah fell to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
- 45 - Jeremiah spoke the LORD's word for Baruch in Jehoiakim's 4th year, that although Baruch has complained about the current situation, He has broken down and plucked up the whole land he built and planted. He shouldn't seek great things, but he will survive the war.
- 46 - The LORD spoke to Jeremiah concerning Egypt and Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt's army. The LORD will deliver Amon of Thebes, Pharaoh, Egypt, her gods, and her kings into Babylon's hand. Medicines and balm won't heal them, and warrior has stumbled against warrior. The LORD also spoke about Nebuchadnezzar's coming attack of Egypt to be declared in Egypt, Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes. Nebuchadnezzar will come like Tabor and Carmel, lay Memphis to waste, and bite Egypt like a fly bites a heifer. Egypt will flee like a serpent, but Babylon will come like locusts and cut down the whole forest. Then Egypt will be inhabited again like the old days, and Jacob and Israel will be saved from far away, though disciplined in just measure.
- 47 - Jeremiah prophesies the coming destruction of Philistia from the north like an overflowing torrent, that it will be cut off from Tyre and Sidon. Gaza and Ashkelon will perish.
- 48 - Jeremiah prophesies the coming destruction of Moab, its god and priests and officials, its cities, its glory, and riches.They are broken like a vessel for which no one cares. Terror, pit, and snare are before them. Yet He will restore their fortunes in the latter days.
- 49 - Jeremiah prophesies the destruction of the Ammonites. Milcom dispossessed Gad, so Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him. Rabbah, its villages, Ai will face terror from all who are around them. Then the LORD will restore their fortunes. Jeremiah prophesied the destruction of Edom, that it would be more thorough than thieves. The fatherless and widows will be preserved, but all will drink the cup of destruction. It will become a horror like Sodom and Gomorrah. People will flee like from a lion from the Jordan jungle, and the LORD will appoint new shepherds. Jeremiah prophesied that Damascus has weakened and her young men and soldiers shall be destroyed. Jeremiah prophesied Nebuchadnezzar destroying Kedar and taking their flocks, tents, curtains, goods, and camels; also that Hazor shall become a haunt of jackals, an everlasting waste. Jeremiah prophesied in the beginning of Zedekiah's reign that the LORD will break Elam's might, scatter them, destroy them, and set His throne there. But in the latter days, their fortunes will be restored.
- 50 - Jeremiah prophesied the surprise destruction of Babylon from the north by archers, that they would face what they had done to others and no man shall dwell there. Bel and Merodach are dismayed. The lost sheep of Israel will flee Babylon and return to Zion, to Israel, to feed on Carmel, Bashan, Ephraim, and Gilead after being picked off by lions, by Assyria, and Nebuchadnezzar. The remnant of Israel and Judah will be pardoned of iniquity and sin.
- 51 - Jeremiah prophesies the destruction of Babylon, the adversary of a God of recompense after destroying His temple and devouring the Jews' delicacies. She was a golden cup in the LORD's hand, making all the earth drunken, a destroying mountain, but now falls. Israel and Judah should escape. As many men as locusts will fight Babylon, the kings of the Medes, Ararat, Minni, Ashkenaz. "By his understanding stretched out the heavens," the LORD who toils for glory and is worthy. Idol makers and laborers in Babylon are stupid and toil for death and fire. The attackers are His hammer to break in pieces Babylon. No stone will be taken as a cornerstone. The greatest nation becomes a horror. Bel will be punished, and the government will sleep perpetually. Jeremiah wrote all his words concerning Babylon and had Seraiah the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, read them in Babylon, pray, tie a stone to the book, and cast it in the midst of the Euphrates then say Babylon will rise no more because of the coming disaster.
52 - Recounting the fall of Jerusalem. Zedekiah was installed as king at 21 by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, warred with him, and was imprisoned in Babylon until death.