Difference between revisions of "Structure – Sefer Yirmeyahu/0"
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<category>Introduction | <category>Introduction | ||
| − | <p>When learning Sefer Yirmeyahu one is struck by the seeming lack of order within the book. While the first 20 chapters of the book are largely undated,<fn>One exception is Yirmeyahu 3:6 which states, "וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֵלַי בִּימֵי יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ"ץ</fn> the following ones appear to go back and forth between the reigns of Yehoyakim and Zidkeyahu,<fn>Chapters 22, 25, 26, 35-36, and 45-46 take place during the reign of Yehoyakim while chapters 21, 24, 28-29, 32-34, 37-39 mention Zidkeyahu.</fn> without any obvious explanation behind the ordering. Thematically as well, the book is not consistent, for the few prophecies of consolation are placed right in the middle of the book (chapters 30-33), breaking up the prophecies of rebuke which surround them.  What is the logic behind the book's structure?</p> | + | <p>When learning Sefer Yirmeyahu one is struck by the seeming lack of order within the book. While the first 20 chapters of the book are largely undated,<fn>One exception is Yirmeyahu 3:6 which states, "וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֵלַי בִּימֵי יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ"ץ</fn> the following ones appear to go back and forth between the reigns of Yehoyakim and Zidkeyahu,<fn>Chapters 22, 25, 26, 35-36, and 45-46 take place during the reign of Yehoyakim while chapters 21, 24, 28-29, 32-34, 37-39 and 51 mention Zidkeyahu. The heading of chapter 27 dates it to the reign of Yehoyakim, but the body speaks of Zidkeyahu.  [This leads Shadal to suggest that there was an error in the redaction of the chapter's opening, while Radak suggests instead that the prophecy must have been relayed to Yirmeyahu in the earlier reign of Yehoyakim, even though it pertained to later times.]</fn> without any obvious explanation behind the ordering.</p><p>Thematically as well, the book is not consistent, for the few prophecies of consolation are placed right in the middle of the book (chapters 30-33), breaking up the prophecies of rebuke which surround them.<fn>There are several individual verses of consolation scattered throughout the book as well. See, for example, 2:1-3 and 23:5-8, though see R"Y Kara in "<a href=""זָכַרְתִּי לָךְ חֶסֶד נְעוּרַיִךְ"" data-aht="page">זָכַרְתִּי לָךְ חֶסֶד נְעוּרַיִךְ"</a> who claims that all of chapter 2 is rebuke.</fn>  In addition, though Yirmeyahu is commanded to prophesy against the foreign nations in Chapter 25, the series of prophecies regarding them appear only at the end of the book, in chapters 46-51.<fn>This division is highlighted by the fact that in the Septuagint they appear in the middle of the content of Chapter 25.</fn> What is the logic behind the book's structure?</p> |
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Boundaries of the Unit | <category>Boundaries of the Unit | ||
Version as of 02:58, 29 October 2018
Structure – Sefer Yirmeyahu
Introduction
When learning Sefer Yirmeyahu one is struck by the seeming lack of order within the book. While the first 20 chapters of the book are largely undated,1 the following ones appear to go back and forth between the reigns of Yehoyakim and Zidkeyahu,2 without any obvious explanation behind the ordering.
Thematically as well, the book is not consistent, for the few prophecies of consolation are placed right in the middle of the book (chapters 30-33), breaking up the prophecies of rebuke which surround them.3 In addition, though Yirmeyahu is commanded to prophesy against the foreign nations in Chapter 25, the series of prophecies regarding them appear only at the end of the book, in chapters 46-51.4 What is the logic behind the book's structure?
