1 2 10/6/02 1) He would take vengeance and dry up her water sources. Vs. 36 Jeremiah 51:34-52:34 2) He would make her desolate and the place for jackals and mocking. Vs. 37 We didn’t finish chapter fifty-one last time so we will be picking up at verse thirty-four and 51: 38-40 God would set them up by their continuing on to chapter fifty-two, coming to the pride. close of our study of the book of Jeremiah. 1) They are pictured as roar like lions and growling like lions' whelps. Vs. 38 We began 11/25/01, so it’s been about ten months 2) They would be partying with wine rather and have looked at about twenty-seven messages that being afraid of the Medes, being set on Sunday morning. up as lambs to the slaughter. Vs. 39 -40 * This is exactly what took place as This is the fifth division and regards the appendix Beshazzar defiled the vessels of the and conclusion of the book. Jer. 52 temple in his drunken feast, as God * Possibly recorded by Ezra and some other person wrote on the wall, “And this is the after the return? inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. “This 51:34-44 The defenselessness of Babylon. is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your 51:34-35 The people of God complaint against kingdom, and finished it; “TEKEL: Babylon’s ill treatment of them. You have been weighed in the 1) Nebuchadnezzar is portrayed as some balances, and found wanting;” monster of uncompassionate ruler for his “PERES: Your kingdom has been enjoyment. Vs.34 divided, and given to the Medes and 2) The petition of Jerusalem is that it be Persians.”. Dan. 5:25-28 done to him in like manner, saying “And my blood be upon the inhabitants of 51:41-44 The taking of Babylon. Chaldea!” Vs. 35 nations, Sheshach is another cryptogram referring to Babylon! Vs. 41 51:36-37 God would plead their case. 3 4 2) Babylon was covered with the multitude ruled only a few months until of its waves. Vs. 42 replaced by Nabonidus, 556-539 B.C. 3) Babylon is uninhabited. Vs. 43 4) Yahweh would punish Bel in Babylon, 51:49-53 The sure fall of Babylon and Jews spoil her of all her goods and stop going to Jerusalem. nations from coming to her, making her 1) Babylon would reap in kind, the law of defenseless without walls. Vs. 44 lex talionis, i.e., law of retaliation.. Vs. * Three-hundred feet high, eighteen feet 49 thick and thirty-five feet deep into the 2. The captives were to not hesitate but ground! think of Jerusalem. Vs. 50 3) Shame had covered the face of the Jews, 51:45-58 The flight of Israel and the fear of as strangers had come into the Babylon. sanctuaries of the LORD’S house, it was never to be forgotten. Vs. 51 51:45-48 Israel is to flee Babylon. 4) The days would bring judgment on her 1) God’s people were to deliver themselves carved images, And throughout all her from the fierce anger of the LORD, land the wounded shall groan. Vs. 52 fleeing as from Sodom and Gamorrah. 5) Nothing could prevent the destruction of Vs. 45 Babylon. Vs. 53 2) The precaution was that they not be caught in the destruction. Vs. 46 51:54-58 The complete destruction of 3) The days would be judgment on the Babylon repeated. carved images of Babylon; and all her 1) The horrible cries from Babylon, were the slain shall fall in her midst. Vs. 47 doing of the LORD, the God of 4) Heaven and earth would rejoiced in that recompense, righteous justice. Vs. 54 day and sing for the plunder from the 2) The Lord by plundering Babylon, silence north. Vs. 48 her Voice of pride. Vs. 5 * Nebuchadnezzar’s successor, Amel- 3) The mighty men are taken, their bows Marduk, was assassinated in 560 b his broken for Yahweh would surely repay. brother-in-law Neriglisser, 560-556 Vs. 54-56 B.C. His successor, Labashi-Marduk, 5 6 4) This without any doubt another reference accommodations and comfort of the to the feast of Belshazzar, as the Lord of king of Zedekiah in Babylon, who hosts writes their doom. Vs. 57, Dan. 5 happened to be the brother of Baruch, 5) The end is inevitable the broad walls who was Jeremiah’s secretary. Vs. 59; would be utterly broken, the high gates 32:12; 45:1 shall be burned with fire; not people or nations, will be able to stop it. Vs. 58 51:60-62 The nature of the mission. 1) Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that 51:59-64 The mission of Seraiah. would come upon Babylon, all the words that are written against Babylon. Vs. 60 51:59 The time of the mission. Vs. 59 a) He collected all words of judgment 1) Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah against Babylon and compiled them in the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah. this scroll. Vs. 59a-b b) He was in affect warning her to * This was as much a Divine message as repent. the others to Jeremiah. 2) Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you 2) The occasion was when he went with arrive in Babylon and see it, and read all Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon. these words”. Vs. 61 Vs. 59c a) The reading of the prophecy was no * Though no reason is given, it is easy matter but one as courageous as beloved it was to clear himself of the Jeremiah’s mission. accusation of rebellion by making an b) The words could be interpreted as alliance with Egypt. Jer. 27:2-11 arrogant and rebellious by the 3) The exact year is given to us. Vs. 59c Babylonians. * In the fourth year of his reign, 594-93 4) Jeremiah then makes the mission even B.C. more difficult telling Saraiah to confirm 4) The identity of Saraiah is also given. Vs. the message before all who heard it 59d saying, “Then you shall say, `O LORD, * Seraiah was the quartermaster, or “staff You have spoken against this place to cut officer, the one responsible to go it off, so that none shall remain in it, ahead and look after the 7 8 neither man nor beast, but it shall be being judged by God, sinking to desolate forever Vs. 62 never rise again. 3) Jeremiah ends his words. Vs. 64d 51:63-64 The illustration and application of the * Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. mission. 1) Jeremiah gave to Saraiah a final 52:1-11 The reign of Zedekiah. instruction to illustrate his message, 1) The chapter is a supplement to the book “Now it shall be, when you have finished of Jeremiah, written by someone else reading this book, that you shall tie a than Jeremiah. stone to it and throw it out into the 2) It is to vindicate the prophet in contrast to Euphrates. Vs. 63 the false prophets. 2) Jeremiah then made application to the 3) The chapter is almost identical to Second message, “Then you shall say, `Thus kings, with minor differences. Babylon shall sink and not rise from the catastrophe that I will bring upon her. 52:1-3 The ascension and rebellion. And they shall be weary.” Vs. 64a-c 2Kings24:18-20 a) This was a sign message, so as to not 1) Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when misunderstand it, being imprinted in he became king, and he reigned eleven the minds of the hearers. years in Jerusalem, from 597-586 B.C. b) This was to give hope to the captives Vs. 1a-b at the same time and assurance of a) Zedekiah was one of the three sons of Yahweh’s faithfulness. Josiah, Jehoiahaz and Jehoiakim was c) Notice that at the same time Jeremiah his brothers. was prophesying to Judah to b) Zedekiah was placed on the throne by surrender, he sends the prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar when his nephew Babylon’s destruction! Jehoiachin was deported, after only * The book began with Babylon as the three months. 2Kings 24:15-17 “boiling pot” to be used by God as 2) Zedekiah’s mother’s name was Hamutal His instrument of judgment for the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Vs. Judah and ends with Babylon 1c 9 10 a) The spelling is confirmed but also 1) The rebellion of Zedekiah caused recorded differently. 2Kings 23:31; Nebuchadnezzar all of his army and to 24:18 besiege Jerusalem in the ninth year of his b) Not Jeremiah the prophet but another. reign, in the tenth month, the tenth day of Jer. 35:3 the month, January 588 B.C. Vs. 4a-d c) Libnah was an important city of a) Ezekiel was told by Yahweh to record Sephelah of Judah. the date, confirming the date. Ezk. 3) Zedekiah also did evil in the sight of the 24:1-2 LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim b) The date was memorialized by the had done. Vs. 2 Jews and a fast was instituted. Zech. a) Jehoiakim reigned for 8:19 b) Zedekiah did not learn from history, 2) The siege was all around the wall of for Zedekiah king of Judah had shut Jerusalem. Vs. 4e Jeremiah up, saying, “Why do you 3) This siege lasted till the eleventh year of prophesy and say, `Thus says the King Zedekiah, 586 B.C.