Jer·e·mi·ah /-ˈmaɪə/
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 Jeremiah
      n 1: (Old Testament) an Israelite prophet who is remembered for
           his angry lamentations (jeremiads) about the wickedness
           of his people (circa 626-587 BC)
      2: a book in the Old Testament containing the oracles of the
         prophet Jeremiah [syn: Book of Jeremiah]


 Jeremiah
    raised up or appointed by Jehovah. (1.) A Gadite who joined
    David in the wilderness (1 Chr. 12:10).

      (2.) A Gadite warrior (1 Chr. 12:13).

      (3.) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr.
    12:4).

      (4.) One of the chiefs of the tribe of Manasseh on the east of
    Jordan (1 Chr. 5:24).

      (5.) The father of Hamutal (2 Kings 23:31), the wife of
    Josiah.

      (6.) One of the "greater prophets" of the Old Testament, son
    of Hilkiah (q.v.), a priest of Anathoth (Jer. 1:1; 32:6). He was
    called to the prophetical office when still young (1:6), in the
    thirteenth year of Josiah (B.C. 628). He left his native place,
    and went to reside in Jerusalem, where he greatly assisted
    Josiah in his work of reformation (2 Kings 23:1-25). The death
    of this pious king was bewailed by the prophet as a national
    calamity (2 Chr. 35:25).

      During the three years of the reign of Jehoahaz we find no
    reference to Jeremiah, but in the beginning of the reign of
    Jehoiakim the enmity of the people against him broke out in
    bitter persecution, and he was placed apparently under restraint
    (Jer. 36:5). In the fourth year of Jehoiakim he was commanded to
    write the predictions given to him, and to read them to the
    people on the fast-day. This was done by Baruch his servant in
    his stead, and produced much public excitement. The roll was
    read to the king. In his recklessness he seized the roll, and
    cut it to pieces, and cast it into the fire, and ordered both
    Baruch and Jeremiah to be apprehended. Jeremiah procured another
    roll, and wrote in it the words of the roll the king had
    destroyed, and "many like words" besides (Jer. 36:32).

      He remained in Jerusalem, uttering from time to time his words
    of warning, but without effect. He was there when Nebuchadnezzar
    besieged the city (Jer. 37:4, 5), B.C. 589. The rumour of the
    approach of the Egyptians to aid the Jews in this crisis induced
    the Chaldeans to withdraw and return to their own land. This,
    however, was only for a time. The prophet, in answer to his
    prayer, received a message from God announcing that the
    Chaldeans would come again and take the city, and burn it with
    fire (37:7, 8). The princes, in their anger at such a message by
    Jeremiah, cast him into prison (37:15-38:13). He was still in
    confinement when the city was taken (B.C. 588). The Chaldeans
    released him, and showed him great kindness, allowing him to
    choose the place of his residence. He accordingly went to Mizpah
    with Gedaliah, who had been made governor of Judea. Johanan
    succeeded Gedaliah, and refusing to listen to Jeremiah's
    counsels, went down into Egypt, taking Jeremiah and Baruch with
    him (Jer. 43:6). There probably the prophet spent the remainder
    of his life, in vain seeking still to turn the people to the
    Lord, from whom they had so long revolted (44). He lived till
    the reign of Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar, and must have
    been about ninety years of age at his death. We have no
    authentic record of his death. He may have died at Tahpanhes,
    or, according to a tradition, may have gone to Babylon with the
    army of Nebuchadnezzar; but of this there is nothing certain.



 Jeremiah, exaltation of the Lord