jeremiah 40 through 42

Read Jeremiah 40 through 42 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Jer 40:1-6 {p} Jeremiah released from the captives and sent back free to dwell in Judah
Jer 40:7-12 {s} Gedaliah made governor under the Chaldeans/ the remnant came to him at Mizpah
Jer 40:13-16 {p} He received intel that Ishmael was sent to kill him, but he did not believe it
Jer 41:1-10 {s} Ishmael killed Gedaliah + Babylonians who were with him/ took the remnant captive to Ammon
Jer 41:11-15 {s} Johanan + his men pursued Ishmael + rescued the captives, but Ishmael escaped to Ammon
Jer 41:16-18 {p} Johanan + remnant went south near Bethlehem toward Egypt, for they feared the Babylonians
Jer 42:1-6 {p} The captains + remnant asked Jeremiah for the word of YHVH, so that they may obey it
Jer 42:7-22 {s} YHVH: remain here, do not fear Babylon/ if you go to Egypt, you will not escape

Jer 36:1-45:5 chiastic structure:

1a) Jer 36:1-39:18, YHVH’s word despised + His prophet imprisoned/ Fear not but obey/ Fall of Jerusalem + deliverance of Ebed-Melech;

1) Jer 36:1-32 {s+p+sx4} Jehoiakim despised the word of YHVH;
2) Jer 37:1-38:14 {p+p+sx5} Jeremiah imprisoned for the word of YHVH;
3) Jer 39:17-28a {sx3+p+s} If you surrender you shall live + fear not, but obey/ if not you shall not escape;
4) Jer 38:28b-39:14 {s} Babylon besieges + takes Jerusalem;
5) Jer 39:15-18 {p} The word of YHVH to Ebed-Melech: I will give your life to you as a prize;

1b) Jer 40:1-6 {p} Jeremiah released from the captives + sent back free to dwell in Judah;

1c) Jer 40:7-12 {s} Gedaliah made governor under the Chaldeans/ the remnant came to him at Mizpah;

central axis) Jer 40:13-16 {p} The governor did not believe the report about Ishmael who was sent to kill him;

2c) Jer 41:1-10 {s} Gedaliah + Babylonians who were with him murdered/ the remnant taken captive to Ammon;

2b) Jer 41:11-18 {s+p} The remnant released from Ishmael’s captivity + returned back free to dwell in Judah;

2a) Jer 42:1-45:5, Fear not but obey/ YHVH’s word despised + His prophet kidnapped/ Egypt will fall + deliverance of Baruch;

3) Jer 42:1-22 {p+s} Remain in Judah and live + fear not, but obey/ if you go to Egypt, you will not escape;
1) Jer 43:1-4, The captains rebuked him + despised the word of YHVH;
2) Jer 43:5-7 {s} Jeremiah + Baruch forcibly taken to Egypt for the word of YHVH;
4) Jer 43:8-44:30 {p+s+s+p+sx3+p+s} Babylon will besiege + take Egypt as they have taken Judah;
5) Jer 45:1-5 {p} YHHV to Baruch: Do not seek great things for yourself, but you will live wherever you shall go.

The chiastic structure for the book of Jeremiah:

1a) Jer 1:1-12:17 chiastic structure, Prophecies against Judah;

1b) Jer 13:1-20:18 chiastic structure, Judah’s desolation prophesied;

1c) Jer 21:1-29:32, Dated prophecies directed to specific kings + peoples;

central axis) Jer 30:1-33:26, Hope + restoration of Israel + Judah under Messiah;

2c) Jer 34:1-35:19, Dated prophecies directed to specific kings + peoples;

2b) Jer 36:1-45:5, Fall of Jerusalem + Judah taken captive to Babylon/ remnant fled to Egypt;

2a) Jer 46:1-51:64, Prophecies against the nations;

conclusion) Jer 52:1-34, Fall of Jerusalem.

Once again, the central axis does not highlight the wickedness, idolatry, or desolation, but God’s mercy, salvation, and restoration. Our future is NOT grim, but amazing!