Jeremiah 1:1

1. Words Speeches or discourses. Most of the prophetical books commence with the title “The word of God;” but those of Jeremiah and Amos are called the “words” of these prophets. For this two reasons have been given: 1) These books contain, along with prophecy, much historical matter; 2) The whole books are historical; even the prophecies being a written record of what was at first delivered in the form of oral discourses. Such matter is in Hebrew often called “words.” See marginal note 1Ki 11:41 ; 1 Chronicles 29:29.

Son of Hilkiah See Introduction.

Anathoth A city lying one and one fourth hours northeast from Jerusalem, according to Robinson; or three miles, according to Eusebius. This place is first mentioned in Joshua 21:18. “Men of Anathoth” were among those who returned from the captivity. Ezra 2:23; Nehemiah 7:27. It was a priests’ city and had “suburbs.” Joshua 21:18; 1 Chronicles 6:60. It would hence appear that the place was not without consequence; and combining, as it did, what is best in the life of the city and the country, it doubtless contained the ripest fruits of Jewish culture. The conditions there were favourable for producing the great representative man of this period.