The Historical Contexts of the Books of Jeremiah

Abstract

The Jeremiah traditions are firmly ensconced in the political and social crises of the late seventh and early sixth centuries bce, with the destruction of Jerusalem and the displacement of many of its inhabitants constituting key historical touchstones. This chapter examines the ancient Near Eastern political context of Judah’s demise, analyzing the end of Assyrian power and the struggle between Babylonia and Egypt to succeed it; the growing political turmoil in Judah, as its leadership sought and failed to respond to these wider changes; and the implications of these domestic and international contexts for the interpretation of the books of Jeremiah.