Category Archives: Readings

Jeremiah is thrown into prison by King Zedekiah for constantly saying that the Babylonians would defeat Israel, and that they should submit to Nebuchadnezzar. God has the prophet buy a piece of land as a sign of future prosperity for … Continue reading →

After Jehoiakim rebels and is killed by Nebuchadnezzar, his son briefly succeeds him until Babylon replaces him with Jehoiakim’s brother Mattaniah, now renamed Zedekiah. This new evil king cultivated a group of false prophets. The most prominent – Hananiah – … Continue reading →

The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple – first by the Babylonians in 587 B.C. and later by the Romans in 70 A.D. – are marked by Jews each year at the Fast of Ab. It is a time of … Continue reading →

God tells Jeremiah to write down all his prophecies in a scroll and recite them to the people, in a final attempt to call the people to repentance. Jeremiah dictates to his disciple Baruch, who reads the scroll in the … Continue reading →

God, speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, tries any and all methods, illustrations and metaphors to warn the people and cause them to repent of their idolatry, without success. When the authorities arrest Jeremiah and put him publicly to shame, he … Continue reading →

God’s first prophecy that He directs Jeremiah to “cry in the ears of Jerusalem” is really a review of His relationship with Israel framed as a entreaty to a lover that He had rescued from slavery in Egypt, took in, … Continue reading →

The last four kings of Judah after Josiah – Jehoahaz, Jehoakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah – were evil and led to the spiritual disintegration of Israel resulting in its final destruction. Our main witness is the prophet Jeremiah, who had to … Continue reading →