Jeremiah Class 1

8/3/2019 Jeremiah Class 1

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A Prophet out of time


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From the town of Anathoth (3 miles NE of Jerusalem, 20 S ofShiloh)

The Son of a Priest

Born sometime before 627 BCE

Never Married (Jer. 16:1-9)Active as a Prophet after 609 BCE

Died after 582 BCE, probably in Egypt

LIFE DOMINATED BY TWO GREAT EVENTS: JOSIAHSREFORMS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM


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Strongest attempt by Judean king to return to worship ofYahweh

Vigorous suppression of Syncretism

Suppression of foreign religionsSacrificial system centralized in Jerusalem (putting Jeremiahs family out of work!)

New laws introduced: the book of Deuteronomy Public reading of the law every 7 years

Reforms largely abandoned after Josiahs death Jeremiah rarely mentions Josiah by name, suggesting his

prophetic work took place after Josiahs death


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Jeremiah is PRE-DESTINED to be a prophet

Called to both Tear down and Build Up Jeremiahs message is profoundly political Jeremiah is reluctant

Too YoungNot the only prophet around:

HabakkukEzekielThe Professional Prophets


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Longest Prophetic book: 2 nd longest book in OTTwo Versions: Septuagint and Masoretic textMasoretic text about 25% longerBOTH versions are old (present in Dead sea scrolls)Both first-person and third-person textsContents:

Prophecies against Judah and Other Countries

Narration about JeremiahJeremiahs Confession: Jeremiahs complaints to God Book of Consolation: Positive prophecies of the future Letters by Jeremiah


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800 BCE


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1. Subjugation by empire Varying degrees of independence Financial and Economic exploitation Cultural Subjugation

2. Empire has episode of decline Internal forces (change of regime, rebellion)

External pressure (new empire) Often RELATIVE, not ABSOLUTE

3. Vassal pursues independence Disloyalty in words and deeds (non-compliance) Alliances with opponents Active rebellion

4. The Empire strikes back! If empire resurges, back to step 1! If a new empire dominates, back to step 1!

5. Cycle repeats with New Master, or Punishment of Vassal, or

Destruction of Vassal


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Opening

Action

Reaction

Result


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Opening Assyrian control of vassals declines

Action Egypt rebels against Assyria and invades

north

Reaction Josiah attacks invading Egyptians

Result Josiah is killed; Judah is conquered byEgypt, which imposes new king


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Opening

Action

Reaction

Result


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Opening

Action

Reaction

Result


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Opening

Action

Reaction

Result


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Yahweh and his Asherah

Jeremiah Class 1

Documents

Transcript of Jeremiah Class 1