Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, is both a prophet and a priest. The book of Jeremiah is about the life and ministry of this prophet, but Baruch compiled the content based on Jeremiah’s dictation and the scribe’s own chronicling of Jeremiah’s life. Because of this, we know more about Jeremiah than any of the other prophets who appear in the Bible.
In reading the book of Jeremiah, we see that Jeremiah suffers much for speaking God’s word to an unreceptive audience. At various times his detractors threaten him, throw him into a pit, and place him in stocks. More than once, his life is in danger. False prophets oppose and humiliate him. And though he tells the people not to flee to Egypt, they do exactly that and force him to go with them.
One thing unique to Jeremiah’s prophecy is that—unlike other prophets—he gives a specific timeline to one of his pronouncements. He says the people will live in exile in Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11–12).
Four chapters later, he adds more detail. Jeremiah says that after the seventy years of captivity have passed, God will rescue them, bring them home, and punish Babylon (Jeremiah 29:10).
In the books of Daniel and Ezra, we see this occur just as the prophet proclaimed.
How do we react when people attack and malign us for obeying God? And if we’re never persecuted, what does this say about how we live our life?
[Read Jeremiah’s story throughout the book of Jeremiah. Discover more in 2 Chronicles 36:21–23 and Daniel 9:2.]
Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.
