Historical Background Of Jeremiah

The world situation was in an uproar as Assyria, Egypt, and Babylon were vying for world domination. Judah was greatly affected by their lust for power and the ambition of these three nations—it was the geographical link between Egypt in the south and Assyria and Babylon in the north. Assyria’s power and domination was waning. She had been weakened by numerous rebellions throughout the empire—especially by Babylon. A Medo-Babylonian alliance finally defeated Ninevah in 612 BC under Nabopolassar as prophesied by Nahum. Babylon then defeated the Egyptian armies at Carchemish in 605 BC under Nebuchadnezzar (46:1-2,13).

Babylon was emerging as the dominant world power. She collected tribute and royal hostages from King Jehoiakim in 606 BC. She also deported Jews from Jerusalem in two more waves (52:28-30) and in 586 BC they finally destroyed Jerusalem. In her pride, Judah had turned away from God and vacillated between alliances with Assyria, Egypt, and Babylon.
They had forsaken God and turned to idols (2:13). They had degenerated to such a point that God even forbid Jeremiah from praying for them (7:16; 11:14). There was still hope if they would repent (18:7-10), but knowing they wouldn’t God decreed that they would go into captivity for 70 years (25:8-11).

Message Of Jeremiah

Summarized in the statements “And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years… Though I make a full end of all
nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, and will not let you go altogether unpunished.” (25:11).