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This final chapter of Jeremiah is an historical addendum covering the fall of Jerusalem, the Babylonian exile before concluding with a glimmer of hope. The chapter recalls events from 2 Kings 25. King Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon so the Babylonians sieged Jerusalem for 18 months causing mass starvation, and the city was burnt and destroyed. Zedekiah was blinded and taken captive to Babylon. Then the Babylonians looted the temple and stripped everything of value. Then the craftsmen and upper-class people were taken to Babylon leaving behind only the paupers. In all 4,600 people were taken into exile. Then the chapter ends on a nicer note with exiled King Jehoiachin being released by new King Evil-Merodach of Babylon after 37 years in jail and he was given a seat of honour above the other captive kings. “For the rest of his life he ate regularly at the king’s table… and he even received a regular allowance”!

Jeremiah 51 prophesies the destruction of Babylon and he uses the Medes and the Persians to this end: “The Lord has stirred up the king of the Medes… to destroy Babylon… the Lord will carry our his purpose, his decree against Babylon… the Medes are my war club, my weapon for battle… with you I shatter everyone… I will repay Babylon for all the wrong they have done… I will stretch out my hand against you… and you will be desolate forever… we will lay waste the land of Babylon… may the violence done to our flesh be upon Babylon… Babylon will be a heap of ruins… I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter… her towns will be desolate… come out of her my people and run for your lives!… I will punish the idols of Babylon… Babylon must fall because of Israel’s slain… the Lord will destroy Babylon… the Lord is a God of retribution… and God says he will make Babylon’s leaders drunk and they will sleep forever”. Then Jeremiah sent Seraiah to read the scroll with all these prophecies in Babylon and then tie a stone to it and throw it in the Euphrates symbolic of how Babylon would sink forever”.

Jeremiah 50 predicts God’s judgement on Babylon. It is true that God had used Babylon to punish nations including Judah, but their cruelty to Judah and their paganism made them liable to destruction by God opening the way to Judah’s restoration. “Babylon will be captured, Bel will be put to shame and Marduk (Babylonian gods) filled with terror… for I will bring against Babylon an alliance of nations from the north… Babylonia will be plundered… and will be totally desolate… I will punish the king of Babylon… as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah no-one will live there… God will completely destroy their pasture”. Jeremiah also prophesies that in those days “the people of Israel and Judah will go in tears to seek the Lord their God… they will ask the way to Zion… flee out of Babylon and no longer be as lost sheep… I will bring Israel back to his own pasture… and I will forgive the remnant I spare”. God’s judgement upon Babylon is decreed… “Pursue, kill and destroy them declares the Lord… I set a trap for you O Babylon… completely destroy her and leave her no remnant… woe to them! For their day has come… the time for them to be punished… summon archers against Babylon… let no-one escape… see I am against you O arrogant one!”

 Jeremiah 49 brings prophecies of a series of divine judgements on neighbouring nations and cities around Judah. Starting with Ammon we read: “I will sound the battle cry against the Ammonites and it will become a mound of ruins with its villages set on fire… put on sackcloth and mourn… for you trust in your riches… though eventually I will restore your fortunes”! Next comes Edom to whom God says: “Turn and flee and hide in deep caves… why should you go unpunished?… Bozrah will become a ruin and an object of horror, reproach and cursing… you will become like Sodom and Gomorrah… I will chase Edom from its land in an instant”. Next comes Damascus: “It has become feeble… panic has gripped her… anguish and pain have ceased her… all her soldiers will be silenced on that day… I will set fire to the walls of Damascus”. Next come the nomadic tribes of Kedar and Hazor which are targeted for Babylonic destruction. They thought they were invincible because of their isolation, but God shows that nobody and no place is out of range for him. “Their tents will be taken… with all their goods and camels… Nebuchadnezzar has devised a plan against you… I will scatter to the winds all those in distant places… Hazor will become a haunt of jackals”. Finally there is Elam which is located in today’s Iran. “I will break the bow of Elam… I will scatter them to the 4 winds… I will shatter Elam and bring disaster on them… yet eventually I will restore their fortunes”.

Jeremiah 48 is a prophecy concerning Moab who God is about to judge. Initially Moabite towns like Nebo, Heshbon and Kiriathaim “will be disgraced and shattered… the sword will pursue you… Moab will be broken… the destroyer (Babylon) will come… not a town will escape”. God will judge Moab because “we have heard of her pride – her overwhelming pride and conceit, arrogance, haughtiness and insolence… I have stopped the flow of wine from the presses… the wealth they acquired is gone… there is widespread mourning… Moab has become an object of ridicule… I have broken Moab like a jar which no one wants… the cities will be captured… Moab will be destroyed as a nation because she defied the Lord… woe to you O Moab!… although I will restore the fortunes of Moab in days to come”.

 Jeremiah 47 is a short prophecy about God’s coming judgment upon the Philistines. It starts drawing attention that “the waters are rising (for the Philistines) in the north (Babylon)… they will become an overflowing torrent… the day has come to destroy all the Philistines… Gaza will shave her head in mourning… God has ordered attack on Ashkelon and the sea coast”.

Jeremiah 46 is the first in a series of prophecies about foreign nations, starting with Egypt and its defeat by Babylon. Initially the text focuses on the defeat of Pharoah Neco king of Egypt at Carchemish by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and Jeremiah mocks the Egyptian soldiers defining the battle as a day of vengeance from the Lord. Jeremiah then predicts that Babylon would not stop at Carchemish but would invade Egypt and “The Daughter of Egypt will be put to shame, handed over to the people of the north”. Egypt is compared to a hissing snake fleeing its enemies’ advances. Then the chapter ends with a message of comfort and encouragement for Israel with God saying: “I will surely save you out of a distant place… Jacob will again have peace and security… do not fear, O Jacob, for I am with you”.

In Jeremiah 45, which is a short 5-verse chapter, the prophet conveys a word from the Lord to his good friend and scribe Baruch acknowledging that he is worn out and low in spirit, no doubt feeling overwhelmed by all he had written down from Jeremiah’s dictation. God then confirmed that he was about “overthrow” and “uproot” Judah but in it all he promised let Baruch “escape with his life”.

Word now came from God through Jeremiah to the Jews in Egypt reminding them that the reason for the great disaster in Jerusalem and the towns of Judah was the blatant unrepentant idolatry of the people. But now they have returned to pagan idolatry and would therefore suffer a similar fate. God warns them that such judgement is imminent and the remnant of Judah will be subject to eradication by sword or famine. “None will return except a few fugitives”. God condemned the Jews for burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her. The Jews point blank refuse to give up her worship so God is adamant that he will judge them with widespread extermination. As a sign of the divine commitment to this action he says that he will hand over Pharoah Hophra to his enemies that seek his life.

 Azariah, Johanan and all the arrogant Israelites called Jeremiah a liar because he opposed them going to Egypt. Then “they entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord”. Now Jeremiah buried some large stones at the entrance to Pharoah’s palace symbolic of Israel in Egypt and then said that Nebuchadnezzar would soon attack Egypt setting fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt and bring death and captivity to all. Thus the very place that the Israelites had sought refuge against God’s will would be their doom.

Then Johanan and his accompanying army officers asked Jeremiah to pray for God’s guidance for them and promised to obey come what may. 10 days later Jeremiah received word from the Lord telling them to stay put and God would bless them, but if they refused to stay and insisted on going to Egypt then all will die by sword, famine and plague. In this case “you will be an object of cursing, horror, condemnation and reproach, and you will never see this place again”.

Jeremiah 41 tells of how Ishmael came with 10 men and murdered Gedaliah and all the Jews with him. However before word had spread about the killings 80 men arrived bringing grain offerings and incense to the temple, so Ishmael slaughtered them all and threw their bodies into a cistern. Then Ishmael took everyone else there captive. When however the word got round about all the killings Ishmael had carried out Johanan and some army officers came after Ishmael, but he and 8 of his men escaped. Then Johanan and all the survivors of Jerusalem fled to Egypt. 

Jeremiah 39 tells of how the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem finally led to the city wall being broken through and all the Babylonian officials took up seats of authority in the city. Thus King Zedekiah and his soldiers fled but they were pursued and captured the king in the plains of Jericho taking him before Nebuchadnezzar. He slaughtered all the King’s sons before his eyes as well as all the Israelite nobles. Then he removed King Zedekiah’s eyes, put him in Bronze shackles and sent him to Babylon. The Babylonians then broke down the walls of Jerusalem and torched the royal palace and houses, but they left poorer people in the city. Jeremiah was left unharmed amongst his people.

Jeremiah 38 tells of how the prophet warned everyone that if they stayed in Jerusalem they would die and told everyone to go over to the Babylonians who will capture the city. The Israelite officials said Jeremiah “should be put to death” for reducing the morale of the Israelite soldiers, and King Zedekiah handed Jeremiah over to them and they put Jeremiah in a muddy cistern. However Ebed-Melech went and appealed to the king against this and the king sent 30 men to hoist Jeremiah out of the cistern. Then King Zedekiah consulted Jeremiah giving him life assurance, so he told the king that the only way for him to survive was for him to surrender to the Babylonians. Then Jeremiah stayed under house arrest in “the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured”.

 Zedekiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar and he sent word to Jeremiah asking for prayer for God to help them whilst there was a lull in the Babylonian siege thanks to an Egyptian advance. Jeremiah warned Zedekiah that Egypt’s help would come to nothing and that the Babylonians would soon be returning with full strength. Then Jeremiah was arrested for allegedly “deserting to the Babylonians!” The officials had Jeremiah beaten and then imprisoned him. Jeremiah was put in a vaulted cell in a dungeon and left there for a long time. Eventually King Zedekiah sought out Jeremiah and asked him if he had any word from the Lord? Jeremiah told him straight that he did and that he would be handed over to the King of Babylon. Jeremiah insisted on his release and he was at least put under house arrest in the courtyard of the guard and grateful to longer be confined to the dungeon. 

 Jeremiah 36 tells how God commanded him to write on a scroll all the warnings and threats to Israel and Judah since the reign of Josiah, so he dictated everything to Baruch who wrote everything in ink on a scroll. Then Jeremiah sent Baruch to read the scroll to the people in the temple and when the officials heard it they were shocked and Micaiah asked for the scroll to be read again for them to hear clearly, and Baruch confirmed that all had been dictated by Jeremiah. Then they took it to King Jehoiakim and as he heard it read he cut it piece by piece and burnt it. The king then sent for Jeremiah and Baruch but they were well hidden. Then came the word of the Lord condemning the burning of the scroll and telling Jehoiakim that he will have no-one to sit on the throne of David and his body will be thrown out and exposed to the elements. “I will punish him and his children for his wickedness”. And Jeremiah and Baruch then wrote another scroll.

Jeremiah 35 makes a stark contrast between the resolute obedience of a nomadic tribe called the Recabites and the constant disobedience of God’s people. God tests the Recabites telling Jeremiah to get them together and offer them wine to drink. They however refused because their ancestor Jonadab had given them a tee total order, and nor should they build houses or plant vineyards but they should live in tents as nomads. They were only in Jerusalem to shelter from the Babylonian invasion. God therefore pointed to the obedience of the Recabites as an example for the Israelites. 

 Jeremiah 33 contains a message of hope and restoration which he received from God when he was imprisoned whilst Jerusalem was under siege from the Babylonians. God says: “I will restore the fortunes of the land… I will bring health and healing to it… I will bring Israel and Judah back from captivity”. God also promises: “I will make a righteous branch sprout from David’s line… David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne… nor will the priests fail to have a man to stand before me… and such a covenant is as sure as day follows night… I will restore the fortunes of the descendants of Jacob and David”.

Jeremiah 32 tells of the prophet purchasing a field in the home town of Anathoth as directed by God, whilst he was imprisoned by King Zedekiah for having prophesied what he didn’t like whilst Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians. This purchase was a real estate object lesson about how God would one day restore prosperity to his people and “once more fields will be bought in this land… because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord”. The legal documents for the purchase were stored in an earthenware jar so as to survive the judgement period of God. Then comes a prayer by Jeremiah which expresses his bewilderment at the purchase of the field under God’s guidance in such an unfavourable time. God replies to Jeremiah’s prayer saying that his judgement was due to his people’s sinful idolatry but he promises eventual redemption and restoration to the land.

Jeremiah 31 is a famous chapter promising a new covenant and restoration for God’s people. Initially God says: “I have loved you with an everlasting love… I will build you up again… you will go out and dance with the joyful”. God then promises the return of the exiles including the lame, the blind and expectant mothers. Then it’s mentioned about “Rachel weeping for her children” (Joseph and Benjamin) but says “there is hope for your future… your children will return to their own land”. Then God says through Jeremiah: “I will make a new covenant with Israel and Judah… and I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts… and I will remember their sins no more… and Israel will never cease to be a nation”. Then the chapter concludes promising the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Chapters 30 to 33 of Jeremiah are often referred to as the ‘Book of Consolation’ when the Book of Jeremiah transitions from judgement to a message of hope and restoration. The text envisages the restoration of Israel and Judah, the return from Babylonian exile and the salvation of God’s people. The word comes from God to Jeremiah telling him to write in a book that he will bring his people home from captivity and restore them to the land he had given to their forefathers. Jeremiah then describes a period of intense suffering like a man enduring child birth but that eventually God will deliver his people and save them. “I will break the yoke off their necks… no longer will foreigners enslave them… instead they will serve the Lord… so do not fear… I will surely save you”. God goes on to admit that the situation of his people was grave and apparently incurable…. but God had dealt with his people as he had owing to their great sin… but “I will restore you to health… I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents… the city will be rebuilt… from them will come songs of thanksgiving… I will punish all who oppress them… their leader will be one of their own… so you will be my people and I will be your God”.

Jeremiah 29 contains a well-known letter from Jeremiah the prophet as sent to the Judean exiles now living in exile in Babylon. The letter encouraged them to settle happily into Babylon, marrying and giving in marriage, and increasing in number and not diminishing. The Jews were encouraged to go for the long haul and not to expect a quick release as they were going to be in Babylon for 7 decades. So they should build houses, settle down and plant gardens, and they were to pray for the peace and prosperity of Babylon. Jeremiah stresses that the Jews should not listen to false prophets promising a quick fix. Specific condemnations were prescribed for Ahab, Zedekiah and Shemaiah who were misleading the people. And God says clearly to his people; “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

In Jeremiah 28 the false prophet Hananiah took off the yoke from Jeremiah and broke it saying that this was what God would do for Judah delivering them from Babylon within 2 years. Jeremiah reacted saying that this would be great if it happened, but said let’s see if this prophecy comes to pass! Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah saying that in fact the wooden yoke Hananiah had broken would be replaced with an iron one to the extent that Nebuchadnezzar would control absolutely everything including the wild animals! God then predicted death for the false prophet Hananiah within the year, and in the 7th month he died.