Jeremiah

✦ One of few OT books to speak about its writing

✦ began recording in 605 b.c. (after 20 years of prophesying) – see 36:1–3

✦ Baruch (36:4)

✦ original destroyed, but second copy made (36:32)

✦ note 51:64

Authorship & Date of Composition

1. No clear chronological patterns

2. Duplications – oracles separated from report of events (cf. 7 & 26; 25 & 36)

3. Greek text varies from Hebrew

4. Relationship between poetic and prose sections

Issues in Interpretation

LXX Prophecy against… MT

25:15ff. Elam 49:34

26 Egypt 46

27 & 28 Babylon 50 & 51

29:1–7 the Philistines 47:1–7

29:7–29 Edom 49:7–22

30:1–5 Ammon 49:1–6

30:6–11 Kedar 49:28–33

30:12–16 Damascus 49:23–27

31 Moab 48

32 25:15–38

✦ discovered first in 1947

✦ some 800 fragments

✦ some significant finds:

✦ complete Isaiah scroll

✦ Habakkuk Commentary

✦ Psalm Scroll (41 canonical psalms)

✦ fragments of all OT books except Esther

✦ copied 5th century B.C. to 1st century A.D.

Qumran

1. Picture of the Hebrew text nearly 1,000 years older than was previously available

2. Readings that were unknown help us to better understand many details in the biblical text.

3. Provide a good overview of the text in the Second Temple period.

4. Demonstrate remarkable accuracy of OT texts copied and preserved.

5. The reliability of ancient translations, especially the Septuagint, is strengthened.

Contribution of Qumran

✦ 4QJera and 4QJerc have a text similar to the Masoretic Text (the traditional Hebrew text)

✦ 4QJerb shows shortness and arrangement of LXX, witnessing to a Hebrew text used by the translators of the LXX

Witness to the Order of the Text

Influence of Deuteronomy18 He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.19 So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.20 You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.

Deu 10:18–20

5 For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor,6 if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, 7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

Jer 7:5-7

Influence of Deuteronomy

16 So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.

Deu 10:16

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD And remove the foreskins of your heart, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will go forth like fire And burn with none to quench it, Because of the evil of your deeds.

Jer 4:4

Influence of Deuteronomy 9 You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 17 You shall not murder. 18 You shall not commit adultery. 19 You shall not steal. 20 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Deu 5:9, 17-20

9 Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known,

Jer 7:9

1. necessity of obeying law, punishment for disobedience, internalization of law (cf. Jer 15:16; Deut 6:6)

2. necessity of wholeheartedly seeking God (Jer 29:13; Deut 4:29)

3. God as warrior (Jer 21:5; Deut 3:22)

Deuteronomistic Theology

1. Introduction (1)

2. Prophecies of Doom against Judah, Jerusalem, and the Nations (2–25)

3. Prophecies of Salvation for Israel and Judah (26–35)

4. Baruch’s Narrative of the Suffering of Jeremiah (36–45)

5. Prophecies of Doom against the Nations (46–51)

6. Conclusion (52)

Working Outline

✦ internal torah

✦ forgiveness of sin

✦ all Israel knows Yahweh

The New Covenant