Reading for October 3rd

Babylon's fall Ch. 25:This chapter closes off the first major division of the book by reaching back to ch. 1. At las, Jeremiah acts as "porphet to the nations" (1.5,10). Read Jeremiah 25.1-14. In 25.1-14: Invaders will be punished. In verse 1: A narrator dates the chapter to the ruler of the Judahite King Jehoiakim and the Babylonian king Nebuchadrezzar. That date, 606 BCE, indicates that Jeremiah has prophesied the fall of Judah to Babylon well inadvance of events. His prophecy of the fall of Babylon will, therefore, prove equally reliable. In verses 3-7: Jeremiah summarizes his career and the people's refusal to listen to his words. This refusal provoked divine anger. In verses 8-14: God presents the consequences of not listening. In verse 9: The tribes of the north, now identifiied as Babylon, will be God's agent of destruction. God calls the Bbaylonian king my servant. As divine agents, the Babylonians will destroy life on an international scale. In verse 11: Judah will serve Babylon for 70 years. The number may simply mean "a long time," for the exile lasted only 50 years. In verse 14: After that time God will punish Babylon. Comments or Question..