|New American Bible| 2002 11 11 IntraText - Text The Book of
Jeremiah combines history, biography, and prophecy. It portrays
a nation in crisis and introduces the reader to an extraordinary
leader upon whom the Lord placed the heavy burden of the
prophetic office. Jeremiah was born about 650 B.C. of a priestly
family from the little village of Anathoth, near Jerusalem.
While still very young he was called to his task in the
thirteenth year of King Josiah (628), whose reform, begun with
enthusiasm and hope, ended with his death on the battlefield of
Megiddo (609) as he attempted to stop the northward march of the
Egyptian Pharaoh Neco. The prophet heartily supported the reform
of the pious King Josiah, which began in 629 B.C. Nineveh, the
capital of Assyria, fell in 612, preparing the way for the new
colossus, Babylon, which was soon to put an end to Judean
independence. After the death of Josiah the old idolatry
returned. Jeremiah opposed it with all his strength. Arrest,
imprisonment, and public disgrace wer