The second book of the Major Prophets; the twenty-fourth book of the Old Testament; the twenty-fourth book of the Bible.
Author: Jeremiah, specifically named in Jeremiah 1:1. Jeremiah may have written with the assistance of his servant, Baruch.
Audience: The book of Jeremiah is written to the people of the nation of Judah. Some of the writing applies to the people during the reign of King Josiah. Other of the writing is directed to Judah during the rise of Nebuchadnezzar and the deportation of the Jewish people. Jeremiah’s many warnings about judgment were intended for God’s chosen people, who had turned away from God, and would suffer the consequences. After mercifully saving Judah, despite her idolatry, God would finally allow the people to suffer the natural results of their own choices.
Date: Jeremiah 1:1–5 defines the timeframe of Jeremiah’s writings. They began in 630 and ended in approximately 580 BC. This also means the various segments of this book are not necessarily in chronological order.