Jeremiah 1:1 - Exposition

The words of Jeremiah . This introductory formula only occurs here and in Amos 1:1 . The editor of Jeremiah and of Amos deserts the usual phrase ("burden" or , "utterance," "vision," "the word of the LORD which came," etc.) in order to give fuller information concerning the origin of the prophetic writers (but see on verse 2). On the name Jeremiah, and on the position occupied by Hilkiah, see Introduction. That were in Anathoth . So Vulgate; Septuagint, however (followed by Payne Smith), makes the relative refer to Jeremiah ( ὅς κατῴκει ). But in this case would not the phrase have been "Jeremiah the priest," etc. (comp. Ezekiel 1:1 )? Anathoth was one of the priestly cities ( Joshua 21:18 ); it lay on or near the great northern road ( Isaiah 10:30 ), and has been identified by Dr. Robinson (so also by Lieutenant Conder) with 'Anata, situated on a ridge, an hour and a quarter north-northeast from Jerusalem.