The Book of Jeremiah
consists of twenty-three separate and independent sections,
arranged in five books.
I. The introduction, ch. 1.
II. Reproofs
of the sins of the Jews, consisting of seven sections, (1.) ch.
2; (2.) ch. 3-6; (3.) ch. 7-10; (4.) ch. 11-13; (5.) ch.
14-17:18; (6.) ch. 17:19-ch. 20; (7.) ch. 21-24.
III. A general
review of all nations, in two sections, (1.) ch. 46-49; (2.) ch.
25; with an historical appendix of three sections, (1.) ch. 26;
(2.) ch. 27; (3.) ch. 28, 29.
IV. Two sections picturing the
hopes of better times, (1.) ch. 30, 31; (2.) ch. 32,33; to which
is added an historical appendix in three sections, (1.) ch.
34:1-7; (2.) ch. 34:8-22; (3.) ch. 35.
V. The conclusion, in two
sections, (1.) ch. 36; (2.) ch. 45.
In Egypt, after an interval, Jeremiah is supposed to have
added three sections, viz., ch. 37-39; 40-43; and 44.
The principal Messianic prophecies are found in 23:1-8;
31:31-40; and 33:14-26.
Jeremiah's prophecies are noted for the frequent repetitions
found in them of the same words and phrases and imagery. They
cover the period of about 30 years. They are not recorded in the
order of time. When and under what circumstances this book
assumed its present form we know not.
The septuagint version of this book is,
in its arrangement and in
other particulars, different from others. The septuagint
omits 10:6-8; 27:19-22; 29:16-20; 33:14-26; 39:4-13; 52:2,
3, 15, 28-30, etc. About 2,700 words in all of the original are
omitted.
