Outline of Jeremiah
Outline of Jeremiah
The book of Jeremiah is, editorially, much more complex than
almost any other book in the collection of prophetic writings in
the Bible. It has obviously had a long history of its oracles being
written, collected together, arranged, re-arranged, edited, and
re-edited. Furthermore, unlike other prophetic books, such as
Isaiah or Ezekiel, this editing has not generally been done by
adding large "blocks" of material in front of, after, or within
other "blocks" of material. Rather, in Jeremiah, there is often
evidence of individual oracles, here and there, being added or
edited. The book, in a sense, has been "micro-managed" in its
history. When dealing with specific portions of the text, you will
find it helpful to consult the notes at the bottom of a good study
Bible to see which oracles are earlier and which are later.
The types of material found throughout the book is of three or
four different sources:
A. Oracular collections from Jeremiah himself against Jerusalem
and Judah (much of 125, but scattered elsewhere as well)
B. Biographical narratives about Jeremiah, presumably from
Baruch, his scribe (much of chapters 2645, but scattered elsewhere
as well)
C. Deuteronomistic Additions and Clarifications (much of the
Oracles against the Nations material in 4651, but heavily scattered
elsewhere)
[D. Promise Material (the hopeful materials found in 3031 are
sometimes considered by some scholars to be very late additions
originating from the latter part of the exile, although they may,
in fact, be from Jeremiah himself and simply be "A Material"
above.]
Nevertheless, the book does have a very broad and general
arrangement:
I. Introduction and Call Narrative - chapter 1
II. Judgments against Judah and Jerusalem - 2:125:14 (Probably
very similar to the scroll written by Jeremiah in 605 BCE [cf. ch.
36])
A. Oracles from the Reign of Josiah - Chapters 26
B. Oracles from the Reign of Jehoiakim - Chapters 724
C. Summation - 25:1-14
III. Oracles against the Nations - 25:15-38 and chapters
4651
IV. Biographical Narratives about Jeremiah (as well as various
primary and secondary oracles) - Chapters 2636
V. Biographical Narratives about Jeremiah dating to during and
after 586 BCE - Chapters 3745
VI. Historical Appendix (taken from 2 Kings 24:1825:30) -
Chapter 52
