Jeremiah 1:3

It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

It came also in the days {H3117} of Jehoiakim {H3079} the son {H1121} of Josiah {H2977} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, unto the end {H8552} of the eleventh {H6249}{H6240} year {H8141} of Zedekiah {H6667} the son {H1121} of Josiah {H2977} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, unto the carrying away {H1540} of Jerusalem {H3389} captive {H1540} in the fifth {H2549} month {H2320}.

It also came during the days of Y'hoyakim the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y'hudah, continuing until the eleventh year of Tzidkiyahu the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y'hudah, right up until the time Yerushalayim was carried away captive, in the fifth month.

and through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 1:3

This verse precisely frames the historical period of the prophet Jeremiah's active ministry. Following Jeremiah 1:2, which established his initial call during King Josiah's reign, verse 3 narrows the focus to the tumultuous final years of the Kingdom of Judah. It spans from the reign of King Jehoiakim, who succeeded Josiah, through the entire reign of King Zedekiah, Josiah's final son to sit on the throne. This period culminates in the catastrophic "carrying away of Jerusalem captive," a direct reference to the Babylonian exile of 586 BC, which saw the destruction of the city and the Temple.

Key Themes and Messages

  • A Defined Prophetic Timeline: The verse meticulously outlines the duration of Jeremiah's public ministry, underscoring that his prophetic words were delivered over decades, leading up to the nation's ultimate downfall.
  • The Culmination of Judgment: It points to the tragic climax of God's judgment on Judah – the destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of its inhabitants. This event was the fulfillment of many warnings prophesied by Jeremiah.
  • An Era of Decline: The reigns of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah were marked by increasing idolatry, political instability, and a pervasive refusal to heed God's warnings, setting the stage for the inevitable exile.

Linguistic Insights and Historical Significance

The phrase "carrying away of Jerusalem captive" refers to the final and most devastating of the three waves of Babylonian deportations that occurred between 605 BC and 586 BC. This particular mention signifies the ultimate fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, when the city and its Temple were destroyed. This was not merely a military defeat but a profound theological event, seen as God's righteous judgment for Judah's persistent rebellion and covenant unfaithfulness. The specific mention of the "fifth month" (corresponding to the Hebrew month of Av) recalls the month when the Temple was destroyed, a date that became a day of mourning for generations (see Zechariah 7:3). The very names of the kings, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, signify their connection to God's covenant, yet their actions demonstrated a rejection of it.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 1:3 serves as a stark reminder that divine warnings are not without consequence. The long span of Jeremiah's ministry, culminating in the exile, illustrates God's patience and persistent call to repentance before judgment falls. For us today, it emphasizes:

  • The Seriousness of Disobedience: Persistent turning away from God's word ultimately leads to severe consequences, just as it did for Judah.
  • The Reliability of God's Word: What God declares will come to pass, whether it be blessing or judgment, demonstrating His faithfulness to His pronouncements.
  • The Call to Heed Warnings: Just as Judah was warned through Jeremiah, we are called to pay attention to God's truth and respond in obedience before it's too late.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 36:5

    Jehoiakim [was] twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD his God.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:8

    Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they [are] written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

  • 2 Kings 23:34

    And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.

  • Jeremiah 39:2

    [And] in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth [day] of the month, the city was broken up.

  • Jeremiah 34:1

    ¶ The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying,

  • Jeremiah 35:19

    Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.

  • 2 Kings 24:1

    ¶ In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
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