Jeremiah 25:1-2

Prior to the chapter 24 prophetic parable, Jeremiah received an earlier prophetic message from the Lord in 605 B.C., which he delivered to the people of Jerusalem and Judah. [Note: For a brief discussion of a minor chronological problem, see Dyer, "Jeremiah," p. 1160.] This was a timely prophecy, because in that year Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Neco at Carchemish. His victory resulted in the balance of power shifting in the ancient Near East from Assyria to Neo-Babylonia. The Judahites would have wondered how this change would affect them. Later the same year Nebuchadnezzar invaded Palestine, attacked Jerusalem, and deported some of the people of Judah to Babylon.