Jeremiah, Book of

Easton, 1897

Consists of twenty-three separate and independent sections, arranged in five books. I. The introduction, Jeremiah 1. II. Reproofs of the sins of the Jews, consisting of seven sections, (1.) Jeremiah 2; (2.) Jeremiah 3-6; (3.) Jeremiah 7-10; (4.) Jeremiah 11-13; (5.) Jeremiah 14:1-17:18; (6.) ch. Jeremiah 17:19-Jeremiah 20; (7.) Jeremiah 21-24. III. A general review of all nations, in two sections, (1.) Jeremiah 46-49; (2.) Jeremiah 25; with an historical appendix of three sections, (1.) Jeremiah 26; (2.) Jeremiah 27; (3.) Jeremiah 28, Jeremiah 29. IV. Two sections picturing the hopes of better times, (1.) Jeremiah 30, Jeremiah 31; (2.) Jeremiah 32, Jeremiah 33; to which is added an historical appendix in three sections, (1.) ch. Jeremiah 34:1-7; (2.) ch. Jeremiah 34:8-22; (3.) Jeremiah 35. V. The conclusion, in two sections, (1.) Jeremiah 36; (2.) Jeremiah 45.

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

The principal Messianic prophecies are found in Jeremiah 23:1-8; Jeremiah 31:31-40; and Jeremiah 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 the 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 LXX. Version of this book is, in its arrangement and in other particulars, singularly at variance with the original. The LXX. omits Jeremiah 10:6-8; Jeremiah 27:19-22; Jeremiah 29:16-20; Jeremiah 33:14-26; Jeremiah 39:4-13; Jeremiah 52:2, Jeremiah 52:3, Jeremiah 52:15, Jeremiah 52:28-30, etc. About 2,700 words in all of the original are omitted. These omissions, etc., are capricious and arbitrary, and render the version unreliable.