Topic: Persons Of The Bible - Jeremiah

The name "Jeremiah" is from the Hebrew name יִרְמְיָהוּ (Yirmiyahu) which meant "YAHWEH has uplifted". The name also means "raised up or appointed by Jehovah."

A person with the name "Jeremiah" was a Gadite who joined David in the wilderness (1 Chr. 12:10).
Another person with the name "Jeremiah" was a Gadite warrior (1 Chr. 12:13).
Another person with the name "Jeremiah" was a Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:4).
Another person with the name "Jeremiah" was one of the chiefs of the tribe of Manasseh on the east of Jordan (1 Chr. 5:24).
Another person with the name "Jeremiah" was the father of Hamutal (2 Kings 23:31), the wife of Josiah.

A prominent character of the Old Testament was another person with the name "Jeremiah" who was one of the "greater prophets" of the Old Testament. Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah (q.v.), a priest of Anathoth (Jer. 1:1; 32:6). Jeremiah was called to the prophetical office when still young (1:6), in the thirteenth year of Josiah (B.C. 628). Jeremiah prophesied forty-two years; but we have hardly any mention of him during the eighteen years between his call and Josiah's death, or during the short reign of Jehoahaz. Jeremiah left his native place, and went to reside in Jerusalem, where he greatly assisted Josiah in his work of reformation (2 Kings 23:1-25). The death of Josiah, this pious king, was bewailed by the prophet Jeremiah as a national calamity (2 Chr. 35:25). During the reigns of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin, B.C. 607-598, Jeremiah opposed the Egyptian party, then dominant in Jerusalem, and maintained that the only way of safety lay in accepting the supremacy of the Chaldeans. Jeremiah was accordingly accused of treachery, and men claiming to be prophets had the "word of Jehovah" to set against his. (Jeremiah 14:13; 23:7) As the danger from the Chaldeans became more threatening, the persecution against Jeremiah grew hotter. ch. 18. The people sought Jeremiah's life; then follows the scene in (Jeremiah 19:10-13) he was set, however, "as a fenced brazen wall," ch. (Jeremiah 15:20) and went on with his work, reproving king and nobles and people. The danger which Jeremiah had so long foretold at last came near. First Jehoiakim, and afterwards his successor Jehoiachin, were carried into exile, 2Kin 24; but Zedekiah, B.C. 597-586, who was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, was more friendly to the prophet, though powerless to help him. During the three years of the reign of Jehoahaz we find no reference to Jeremiah. As was noted, in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the enmity of the people against him broke out in bitter persecution, and Jeremiah was placed apparently under restraint (Jer. 36:5). In the fourth year of Jehoiakim, Jeremiah was commanded to write the predictions given to him, and to read them to the people on the fast-day. This was done by Baruch his servant in his stead, and produced much public excitement. The roll was read to the king. In the king's recklessness the king seized the roll, and cut the roll to pieces, and cast it into the fire. The king then ordered both Baruch and Jeremiah to be apprehended. Jeremiah procured another roll, and wrote in it the words of the roll the king had destroyed, and "many like words" besides (Jer. 36:32). He remained in Jerusalem, uttering from time to time his words of warning, but without effect. He was there when Nebuchadnezzar besieged the city (Jer. 37:4, 5), B.C. 589. The rumor of the approach of the Egyptians to aid the Jews in this crisis induced the Chaldeans to withdraw and return to their own land. This, however, was only for a time. The prophet Jeremiah, in answer to his prayer, received a message from God announcing that the Chaldeans would come again and take the city, and burn it with fire (37:7, 8). The princes, in their anger at such a message by Jeremiah, cast him into prison (37:15-38:13). Jeremiah was still in confinement when the city was taken (B.C. 588). The Chaldeans released him, and showed him great kindness, allowing him to choose the place of his residence. Jeremiah accordingly went to Mizpah with Gedaliah, who had been made governor of Judea. Johanan succeeded Gedaliah, and refusing to listen to Jeremiah's counsels, went down into Egypt, taking Jeremiah and Baruch with him (Jer. 43:6). The approach of an Egyptian army, and the consequent departure of the Chaldeans, made the position of Jeremiah full of danger, and Jeremiah sought to effect his escape from the city; but he was seized and finally thrown into a prison-pit to die, but was rescued. On the return of the Chaldean army Jeremiah showed his faith in God's promises, and sought to encourage the people by purchasing the field at Anathoth which his kinsman Hanameel wished to get rid of. (Jeremiah 32:6-9) At last the blow came. The city was taken, the temple burnt. The king and his princes shared the fate of Jehoiachin. Jeremiah the prophet gave utterance to his sorrow in the Lamentations. After the capture of Jerusalem, B.C. 586, by the Chaldeans, we find Jeremiah receiving better treatment; but after the death of Gedaliah, the people, disregarding his warnings, took refuge in Egypt, carrying the prophet with them. In captivity his words were sharper and stronger than ever. Jeremiah did not shrink, even there, from speaking of the Chaldean king once more as "the servant of Jehovah." (Jeremiah 43:10) He lived till the reign of Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar, and must have been about ninety years of age at his death. We have no authentic record of his death. He may have died at Tahpanhes, or, according to a tradition, may have gone to Babylon with the army of Nebuchadnezzar; but of this there is nothing certain.

Character.--Canon Cook says of Jeremiah, "His character is most interesting. We find him sensitive to a most painful degree, timid, shy, hopeless, desponding, constantly complaining and dissatisfied with the course of events, but never flinching from duty. Timid in resolve, he was unflinching in execution; as fearless when he had to face the whole world as he was dispirited and prone to murmuring when alone with God. Judged by his own estimate of himself, he was feeble, and his mission a failure; really, in the hour of action and when duty called him, he was in very truth a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land.' (Jeremiah 1:18) he was a noble example of the triumph of the moral over the physical nature." (It is not strange that he was desponding when we consider his circumstances. He saw the nation going straight to irremediable ruin, and turning a deaf ear to all warnings. "A reign of terror had commenced (in the preceding reign), during which not only the prophets but all who were distinguished for religion and virtue were cruelly murdered." "The nation tried to extirpate the religion of Jehovah;" "Idolatry was openly established," "and such was the universal dishonesty that no man trusted another, and society was utterly disorganized." How could one who saw the nation about to reap the awful harvest they had been sowing, and yet had a vision of what they might have been and might yet be, help indulging in "Lamentations"?--ED.)

Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries

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