Jeremiah 14

The following group of discourses includes four chapters. There is no reason for considering these as one discourse delivered on a particular occasion, but rather as a summary of the prophet’s teaching at a certain period which is characterized as the period of “the drought.” It commences with a description of the physical calamity, (Jeremiah 14:2-6,) which is followed by the prophet’s prayer in the people’s behalf, (Jeremiah 14:7-9; Jeremiah 14:19-22.) But this prayer, twice repeated, is twice refused, (Jeremiah 14:10-18; Jeremiah 15:1-9,) and threats of coming calamities are reiterated. Then the prophet complains of the persecution he suffers, and is corrected and comforted, (Jeremiah 15:10-21,) and instructed how, as the servant of Jehovah, he should conduct himself among the people thus sinning and suffering. (Jeremiah 16:1 to Jeremiah 17:4.) Finally, we have a general view of the sources of the evil, and a prayer of the prophet for safety and success among the people.

The date of these discourses we have no certain means of fixing; but it would seem that Jeremiah had become well known in his official character, (Jeremiah 15:16;) that he had become the object of scorn and opposition, (Jeremiah 15:10;) and that he was himself disappointed at his own ill-success. It seems, then, not unreasonable to assign them to the reign of Jehoiakim, but before that memorable fourth year of his reign in which the first deportation of captives to Babylon occurred, and from which the seventy years’ captivity is dated.