in order to their safety, of submission to the new Babylonian power, and their rejection of the Egyptian alliance.

Style and Language.-Jeremiah's writings are all in Hebrew, except the 11th verse of chapter x., which is in Chaldee. His predictions are generally in poetry; they are printed in italics in the order of events for clearness' sake. The historical portions of his writings are in prose. Time when he lived. He describes events in which he took part; but as his writings were referred to by Daniel (ch. ix. 2), he must have lived and written in or before the times of Daniel.

THE WRITINGS OF JEREMIAH.

"It is evident, from various passages of this book, that there were four distinct collections of Jeremiah's prophecies. The first was that mentioned in chap. xxxvi. 2, made by Divine command, in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim. This collection comprises chapters i.-xx., xxv., xxvi., xxxv., xxxvi., xlv.-l. inclusive.

"The second collection is mentioned in chap. xxx. 2, and contained chapters xxvii.-xxxi. inclusive. It was made in the reign of Zedekiah, and, as may be inferred from chap. xxviii, 1, after the fourth year of his reign.

"The third collection was made soon after the fall of Jerusalem, see chap. i. 1-3. It included chapters xxi.-xxiv., xxxii-xxxiv., xxxvii.-xxxix.

"The fourth collection contained chapters xl.-xliv., and narrates the history of Jeremiah and of the Jews left in Jerusalem after the fall of the city."—Horne's Introduction, vol. ii. 195.

The following general arrangement of the writings of this prophet is given by Dr. Blayney:—

1. Prophecies delivered in the reign of Josiah, chapters i.-xii. inclusive.

2. Prophecies delivered in the reign of Jehoiakim, chapters xiii.-xx., xxii., xxiii., xxxv., xxxvi., xlv.-xlviii., xlix. 1-33.

3. Prophecies in the reign of Zedekiah, chapters xxi, xxiv., xxvii.-xxxiv., xxxvii.-xxxix., xlix. 34-39, and 1., li.

4. Prophecies after the fall of Jerusalem, 588, under the government of Gedaliah, &c., chapters xl.-xliv. inclusive.

Date.

B.C.

ORDER OF EVENTS.

641. JOSIAH ascends the throne in his 8th year, 2. Ks. xxii.

633. Begins to reform religion in 16th year, 2 Chron. xxxiv.

639. In the 12th year of his reign he destroys idols in the cities of Judah and Israel,

2 Chron. xxxiv. 3.

629. In the 13th year Jeremiah is called. (The Lord reasons with Judah.)

626. Fall of Nineveh, and rise of the new
Chaldæan empire (Nabopolassar).

624. The Temple is repaired, 2 Ch.xxxiv.8-32.
Hilkiah finds the book of the Law 29
(Zephaniah's prediction, ch. i.-iii.)
Josiah's measures against idolatry, 2 Ks.
xxiii.

623. The Passover is celebrated, 2 Ch. xxxv. 1.
(Jeremiah reproves the people for back-
sliding from the Reformation.)

(He reveals the horrors of the approach-
ing captivity.)

(Habakkuk's prediction, ch. i.-iii.)
(Jeremiah exhorts the people to repentance.)
(He reminds them of Josiah's covenant.)

617. Death of Psammetik I.

Pharaoh Necho succeeds him in Egypt. 610. He marches against the Chaldæans. Josiah meets him at Megiddo.

Josiah defeated and slain, 2 Chron. xxxv.
His character, Ks. xxiii. 25.

JEHOAHAZ made king by the people,
2 Chron. xxxv.

Dethroned by Pharaoh, 2 Chron. xxxv.

610. JEHOIAKIM made king by Pharaoh, 2

Date.

B.C.

(Prediction of the fate of two kings,—
Shallum and Coniah.)

609. Jeremiah prophesies in the Temple Court,
and is arrested by the priests;

but rescued by the princes.

606. In the fourth year of Jehoiakim a battle is fought again at Carchemish, and Pharaoh is defeated.

(Prediction against Egypt.)

The victorious Chaldæans now enter
Judea. The people crowd into Jeru-
salem for safety. The Rechabites an
example to the Jews.

(Prediction of the seventy years, and the
Wine Cup of Wrath.)

The roll of Jeremiah's prophecies col-
lected and read by Baruch.
The Lord comforts Baruch.

The Chaldæans take the city, 2 Ks. xxiv.
Jehoiakim is put in fetters, but after-
wards released and allowed to reign,
2 Chron. xxxvi.

(The Captivity now begins, to last for
seventy years.)

Daniel and the three children now taken
to Babylon, Dan. i.

605. The Roll is read a second time in the

following year.

603. Jehoiakim seeks an alliance with Pharaoh, 2 Ks. xxiv. 2-6; after three years

599. he is taken and slain.

JEHOIACHIN becomes king, 2 Chron.
xxxvi. 8; 2 Ks. xxiv. 6-9.

At this time Ezekiel is taken to Babylon.
(Prediction against Coniah.)

(The Pastors and the True King.)
Nebuchadnezzar invests the city, and
Jehoiachin is taken captive, 2 Kings
xxiv. 10.

ZEDEKIAH is made king by the conqueror. lii., 1-3.

xxxvii. 1,2

xxii.,24-30. xxiii.

xxiv. 1-3. xxiv. 4-10.

xxix. 1-3. xxix. 4-19.

B

Date.

B.C.

599. Prediction against the two prophets,

597.

Ahab and Zedekiah.

Also against Shemaiah.

(Prediction of Restoration.)

595. In the fourth year of Zedekiah, ambas-
sadors from various nations arrive,
seeking an alliance with the king
against the Chaldæans.

Jeremiah predicts their bondage, and
sends them "yokes and bonds."
In the same year he predicts the death
of Hananiah.

(Predictions against the surrounding
nations.)

(Prophecies against Babylon.)

Zedekiah having gone to Babylon, to do
homage to Nebuchadnezzar, the pro-
phet sends these predictions, with in-
structions to sink them when read in
the Euphrates.

594. (Ezekiel's visions, ch. i.-xi., a prophecy
of the fall of Zedekiah.-Ezek. xi.-xiv.)
591. Zedekiah at last rebels, and sends am-
bassadors to Egypt to Pharaoh
Hophra-for aid, Ez. xvii. 15; 2 Chr.
xxxvi. 13.

590. Nebuchadnezzar at once comes against
the city, 2 Ks. xxv. 2; 2 Chr. xxxvi. 17.
He settles by divination what city he
shall attack first, Ezek. xxi. 19-24.
He seizes all Judah, except three towns,
(Lachish, Azekah, Jerusalem.)

Violation of the law by the princes
touching slaves.

The slaves are all set free.

Jerusalem is closely invested by the
Chaldæans, 10th day of 10th month,
2 Ks. xxv. 1.

On the same day it was revealed to Ezekiel
in Chaldæa, Ezek. xxiv. 1, 2.

589. Jeremiah predicts the fall of the city.

He is imprisoned for this by the king.
In prison he purchases the field of
Hananeel.

(Prediction of "the Branch.")

Date.

B.C.

Jeremiah. History. Prophecy.

589. An Egyptian army comes to the aid of | xxxvii.,
the Jews under Pharaoh.

The Chaldæans raise the siege in order
to meet them.

The Jews at once recall the slaves.

Jeremiah predicts against them the
"liberty of the sword."

3-10.

xxxvii., 5.

xxxiv11-16

xxxiv.,

17-22.

Jeremiah accused of "desertion."

Xxxvii.,

11-15.

Result of Jeremiah's answer.

He is cast into a dungeon, but released

by an Ethiopian.

Zedekiah's secret visit.

The Lord's word to the Ethiopian.

588. The Chaldæans storm the city, (4th
month).

Their princes sit "in the middle gate."
Zedekiah flees from the city.

He is taken to Riblah for judgment.
Nebuchadnezzar's care for Jeremiah.
Nebuzaradan gives him into Gedaliah's

care.

The high priest (Seraiah) slain at Riblah.
The city and Temple are burned.
The pillars, &c., carried away to Babylon,
(5th month).

The "poor of the land" alone are left.
History of those who were not
carried away.
(1.)-In Judea.

Gedaliah made governor of Judea, 2 Ks.
xxv. 22; brief summary of events,
XXV. 23-26.

Nebuzaradan's offer to Jeremiah at
Ramah.

The prophet's choice.

Many Jews gather round Gedaliah.
Ishmael's conspiracy is discovered.