Details

Name

Jeremiah

Brief Biography

circa 650 - circa 570 BC, Judaea

Occupation

Prophet

Description

Born in the Kingdom of Judah in the seventh century BC, Jeremiah was a prophet of the Hebrew Bible. Said to have authored the Book of Jeremiah, according to Jewish tradition he is also associated with the authorship of the Book of Kings and Book of Lamentations.

Jeremiah was said to have been called to prophecy in his youth, going on to preach throughout Israel, condemning false prophets, corrupt priests, and the widespread idolatry of the age. He warned the people of Jerusalem of their coming destruction, brought about by their worship of idols, and the burning of children to the pagan god, Baal.

Persecuted for his prophecies, Jeremiah survived attacks and assassination attempts and was eventually imprisoned. Following the capturing of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, he was freed and took up residence in Mizpah (a city of the tribe of Benjamin), with the governor of Judea, Gedaliah.

Upon Gedaliah’s assassination, Jeremiah fled to Egypt with Gedaliah’s successor Johanan, and his scribe Baruch, where he lived out his remaining days.