Jeremiah 1:1-3

Title, ascribing the prophecies which follow to Jeremiah, a man of priestly descent, belonging to Anathoth (see Introduction); his prophetic activity is said to have begun in 626 B.C. (the thirteenth year of Josiah), and to have continued under Jehoiakim (608- 597) and Zedekiah (597- 586). The present book, however, contains prophecies delivered after the carrying away of Jerusalem captive (586 B.C.; cf. 2 Kings 25:8 ff.), viz. in Jeremiah 42-44. Probably 2 was originally the title of this chapter only, and 3 is a later editorial addition. Nothing is known of Jeremiah's father, Hilkiah (perhaps descended from Abiathar; see Introduction), who must not be identified with the Hilkiah named in 2 Kings 22:4 ff.