The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying,
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying, This introductory verse sets the historical crisis context: Jerusalem under siege by the full might of Babylon's empire. The comprehensive description—"all his army," "all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion," "all the people"—emphasizes overwhelming force. Yet even in this desperate moment, "the word... came unto Jeremiah from the LORD," demonstrating that God speaks precisely when human hope seems extinguished.
The phrase "kingdoms of the earth of his dominion" reveals Babylon's vassals participated in Jerusalem's siege—nations Judah once allied with now joined their conquest. This fulfilled the covenant curse that enemies would consume what Israel built (Deuteronomy 28:30-33). The irony is profound: political alliances Judah trusted, violating God's commands to trust Him alone, now turned against them.
Theologically, this verse teaches:
God's word comes in crisis, not just comfort
prophetic ministry continues even when situations appear hopeless
political and military circumstances don't silence God's voice
human alliances fail, but God's word endures.
The Reformed emphasis on Scripture's sufficiency finds support here—God's word addresses real historical crises with divine authority transcending human power.
Historical Context
This occurred during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (588-586 BCE), when Nebuchadnezzar mobilized his entire empire against the rebel vassal Zedekiah. Archaeological evidence from the Lachish Letters documents this period's desperation as Judean cities fell one by one. The phrase "all the kingdoms... of his dominion" reflects historical reality: Babylon controlled the ancient Near East from Egypt's border to Persia, commanding tributaries to provide troops.
The systematic reduction of Judean cities (verse 7 mentions Lachish and Azekeh) preceded Jerusalem's final assault. This fulfills the prophetic pattern: judgment begins at the periphery, moving inexorably toward the center. Jerusalem's false confidence in inviolability ("the temple of the LORD," 7:4) proved hollow when covenant violations removed divine protection. History demonstrates that religious institutions without genuine covenant faithfulness provide no security.
Questions for Reflection
How does God's continued speaking through crisis encourage faith when circumstances seem desperate?
In what ways do failed political or personal alliances reveal the futility of trusting created things rather than the Creator?
How should awareness that God's word addresses real historical situations affect our approach to Scripture?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying, This introductory verse sets the historical crisis context: Jerusalem under siege by the full might of Babylon's empire. The comprehensive description—"all his army," "all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion," "all the people"—emphasizes overwhelming force. Yet even in this desperate moment, "the word... came unto Jeremiah from the LORD," demonstrating that God speaks precisely when human hope seems extinguished.
The phrase "kingdoms of the earth of his dominion" reveals Babylon's vassals participated in Jerusalem's siege—nations Judah once allied with now joined their conquest. This fulfilled the covenant curse that enemies would consume what Israel built (Deuteronomy 28:30-33). The irony is profound: political alliances Judah trusted, violating God's commands to trust Him alone, now turned against them.
Theologically, this verse teaches:
The Reformed emphasis on Scripture's sufficiency finds support here—God's word addresses real historical crises with divine authority transcending human power.