Ep. 176. Jeremiah 1-2 | Do Not Be Dismayed

EPISODE 176

DO NOT BE DISMAYED: JEREMIAH 1-2

The opening verses of this book indicate that Jeremiah became a prophet as a young man in the 13th year of Josiah's reign. Josiah had another 18 years ahead of him as King.

Jeremiah's time as a prophet:

18 years with King Josiah

3 Months with King Jehoahaz

11 years with King Jehoiakim

3 Months with King Jehoiachin

11 years with King Zedekiah

King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem

5 months into the Captivity

A strict addition of these numbers gives us a time of 40 years and 11 months. But it is possible that it could be a few years more or less. What if Jeremiah became a prophet on the last day of the 13th year of Josiah? What if Jehoiakim was a king for 11 years and one day? Or what if he was a king for 11 years and 11 months? So you can see there is some wiggle room. Most people just say Jeremiah was a prophet for 40 years. That's not a bad number to use and is easy to remember. But, by now, you know how I like the details.

Here is a rough timeline for you:

13th year of Josiah's reign: Jeremiah becomes a prophet

21 years later, in the third year of Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar became King of Babylon and first attacked Jerusalem. He then takes the royals of Jerusalem, including Daniel, into captivity.

The book of Daniel begins immediately.

The fourth year of Jehoiakim's reign, which is the second year of Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, corresponds to Daniel chapter 2 when Daniel is elevated to leadership in Babylon.

Seven years later, Jehoiachin was King for three months. A second captivity occurs. (Ezekiel is taken to Babylon in this captivity and is approx 25 years old)

Zedekiah becomes King.

In the fifth year of Zedekiah, also known as the fifth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin, Ezekiel begins to prophesy to the captives in Babylon. This is where Ezekiel 1 begins. Ezekiel will be in Babylon for the entirety of his book. The first 30-32 chapters of Ezekiel correspond to the last six years of Zedekiah's reign as King and the ultimate downfall of Jerusalem.

In the last couple months of the 9th year of Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem. The attack took nearly 18 months. Zedekiah is taken into captivity in Babylon early in his 11th year as King.

Jeremiah 40-44 happens after the destruction of Jerusalem.

Fast forward another 51 years to the end of the 70-year captivity, and now that corresponds to Daniel chapters 5 and 6.

ADDITIONAL READING: Galatians 1:15; Jeremiah 15:20; Psalm 115:4-8; Psalm 135:15-18; Romans 1:23; Hebrews 12:29-30; Judges 10:14