Outline of Jeremiah

The book of Jeremiah is, editorially, much more complex than almost any other book in the
collection of prophetic writings in the Bible. It has obviously had a long history of its oracles
being written, collected together, arranged, re-arranged, edited, and re-edited. urthermore,
unlike other prophetic books, such as Isaiah or !"ekiel, this editing has not generally been done
by adding large #blocks# of material in front of, after, or within other #blocks# of material.
$ather, in Jeremiah, there is often evidence of individual oracles, here and there, being added or
edited. The book, in a sense, has been #micro-managed# in its history. %hen dealing with
specific portions of the text, you will find it helpful to consult the notes at the bottom of a good
study Bible to see which oracles are earlier and which are later.
The types of material found throughout the book is of three or four different sources&
'. (racular collections from Jeremiah himself against Jerusalem and Judah )much
of *+,-, but scattered elsewhere as well.
B. Biographical narratives about Jeremiah, presumably from Baruch, his scribe
)much of chapters ,/+0-, but scattered elsewhere as well.
1. 2euteronomistic 'dditions and 1larifications )much of the (racles against the
3ations material in 0/+-*, but heavily scattered elsewhere.
42. 5romise 6aterial )the hopeful materials found in 78+7* are sometimes
considered by some scholars to be very late additions originating from the
latter part of the exile, although they may, in fact, be from Jeremiah
himself and simply be #' 6aterial# above.9
3evertheless, the book does have a very broad and general arrangement&
I. Introduction and 1all 3arrative - chapter *
II. Judgments against Judah and Jerusalem - ,&*+,-&*0 )5robably very similar
to the scroll written by Jeremiah in /8- B1! 4cf. ch. 7/9.
'. (racles from the $eign of Josiah - 1hapters ,+/
B. (racles from the $eign of Jehoiakim - 1hapters :+,0
1. ;ummation - ,-&*-*0
III. (racles against the 3ations - ,-&*--7< and chapters 0/+-*
I=. Biographical 3arratives about Jeremiah )as well as various primary and
secondary oracles. - 1hapters ,/+7/
=. Biographical 3arratives about Jeremiah dating to during and after -</ B1! -
1hapters 7:+0-
=I. >istorical 'ppendix )taken from , ?ings ,0&*<+,-&78. - 1hapter -,