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William Smith
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(union). Son of Libni, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi. ( 1 Chronicles 6:20 ) (B.C. after 1706.) Head of a later house in the family of Gershom, being the eldest son of Shimei, the son of Laadan. ( 1 Chronicles 23:10 , 11 ) A man in the genealogy of Judah, ( 1 Chronicles 4:2 ) son of Reaiah ben-Shobal. A Levite, son of Shelomoth. ( 1 Chronicles 24:22 ) A Merarite Levite in the reign of Josiah. ( 2 Chronicles 34:12 ) (B.C. 623.)
(one beloved), queen of Amon and mother of the good king Josiah. ( 2 Kings 22:1 ) (B.C. 648.)
(treasured of God), a perfectly distinct name from the last. A man described as father of Gibeon; a fore-father of King Saul. ( 1 Chronicles 9:35 ) One of the sons of Hotham the Aroerite; a member of David’s guard. ( 1 Chronicles 11:44 ) (B.C. 1046.) (God lives). One of the Levites appointed by David to assist in the service of the house of God. ( 1 Chronicles 15:18 , 20 ; 16:5 ) One of the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, put to death by his brother Jehoram. ( 2 Chronicles 21:2 , 4 ) (B.C. 887.) One of the rulers of the house of God at the time of the reforms of Josiah. ( 2 Chronicles 35:8 ) (B.C. 623.) A Gershonite Levite, ( 1 Chronicles 23:8 ) who had charge of the treasures. ch. ( 1 Chronicles 28:8 ) A son of Hachmoni named in the list of David’s officers, ( 1 Chronicles 27:32 ) as “with the king’s sons,” whatever that may mean. A Levite who took part in the restorations of King Hezekiah. ( 2 Chronicles 29:14 ) (B.C. 726.) Another Levite at the same period. ( 2 Chronicles 31:13 ) Father of Obadiah, of the Bene-Joab. ( Ezra 8:9 ) (B.C. before 459.) One of the Bene-Elam, father of Shechaniah. ( Ezra 10:2 ) A member of the same family, who himself had to part with his wife. ( Ezra 10:26 ) A priest, one of the Bene-Harim, who also had to put away his foreign wife. ( Ezra 10:21 ) (B.C. 459.)
(Whom Jehovah adorns), queen to King Josiah, and mother of Amaziah of Judah. ( 2 Kings 14:2 ; 2 Chronicles 25:1 ) (B.C. 862-837.)
(whom the Lord sustains). The son and successor of jehu, reigned 17 years, B.C. 856-840, over Israel in Samaria. His inglorious history is given in ( 2 Kings 13:1-9 ) Throughout his reign, ver. ( 2 Kings 13:22 ) he was kept in subjection by Hazael king of Damascus. Jehoahaz maintained the idolatry of Jeroboam; but in the extremity of his humiliation he besought Jehovah, and Jehovah gave Israel a deliverer—probably either Jehoash, vs. ( 2 Kings 13:23 ) and 2Kin 13:25 Or Jeroboam II., ( 2 Kings 14:24 , 25 ) Jehoahaz, otherwise called Shallum, son of Josiah, whom he succeeded as king of Judah. He was chosen by the people in preference to his elder (comp. ( 2 Kings 23:31 ) and 2Kin 23:36 ) brother, B.C. 610, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. Pharaoh-necho sent to Jerusalem to depose him and to fetch him to Riblah. There he was cast into chains, and from thence he was taken into Egypt, where he died. The name given, ( 2 Chronicles 21:17 ) to Ahaziah, the youngest son of Jehoram king of Judah.
(whom Jehovah sets up), called Eliakim, son of Josiah and king of Judah. After deposing Jehoahaz, Pharaoh-necho set Eliakim, his elder brother, upon the throne, and changed his name to Jehoiakim, B.C. 608-597. For four years Jehoiakim was subject toi Egypt, when Nebuchadnezzar, after a short siege, entered Jerusalem, took the king prisoner, bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon, and took also some of the precious vessels of the temple and carried them to the land of Shinar. Jehoiakim became tributary to Nebuchadnezzar after his invasion of Judah, and continued so for three years, but at the end of that time broke his oath of allegiance and rebelled against him. ( 2 Kings 24:1 ) Nebuchadnezzar sent against him numerous bands of Chaldeans, with Syrians, Moabites and Ammonites, ( 2 Kings 24:7 ) and who cruelly harassed the whole country. Either in an engagement with some of these forces or else by the hand of his own oppressed subjects Jehoiakim came to a violent end in the eleventh year of his reign. His body was cast out ignominiously on the ground, and then was dragged away and buried “with the burial of an ass,” without pomp or lamentation, “beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” ( Jeremiah 22:18 , 19 ; 36:30 ) All the accounts we have of Jehoiakim concur in ascribing to him a vicious and irreligious character. ( 2 Kings 23:37 ; 24:9 ; 2 Chronicles 36:5 ) The reign of Jehoiakim extends from B.C. 609 to B.C. 598, or, as some reckon, 599.
(treasured of God). A Reubenite of the house of Joel. ( 1 Chronicles 5:7 ) A Merarite Levite, one of the gate-keepers to the sacred tent. ( 1 Chronicles 15:18 ) His duty was also to play the harp, ver. ( 1 Chronicles 15:21 ) or the psaltery and harp, ( 1 Chronicles 16:5 ) in the service before the ark. (B.C. 1043.) A Gershonite Levite, one of the Bene-Asaph, forefather of Jahaziel in the time of King Jehoshaphat. ( 2 Chronicles 20:14 ) (B.C. 910.) The scribe who kept the account of the numbers of King Uzziah’s irregular predatory warriors. ( 2 Chronicles 26:11 ) (B.C. 803.) A Gershonite Levite, one of the Bene-Elizaphan. ( 2 Chronicles 29:13 ) One of the chiefs of the Levites in the time of Josiah. ( 2 Chronicles 35:9 ) (B.C. 623.) One of the Bene-Adonikam who formed part of the caravan of Ezra from Babylon to Jerusalem. ( Ezra 8:13 ) (B.C. 459.) A layman of the Bene-Nebo, who had taken a foreign wife and had to relinquish her. ( Ezra 10:43 ) (B.C. 459.)
Seven other persons bearing the same name as the prophet are mentioned in the Old Testament:— Jeremiah of Libnah, father of Hamutal wife of Josiah. ( 2 Kings 23:31 ) (B.C. before 632.) 2,3,4. Three warriors—two of the tribe of Gad— in David’s army. ( 1 Chronicles 12:4 , 10 , 13 ) (B.C. 1061-53.) One of the “mighty men of valor” of the transjordanic half-tribe of Manasseh. ( 1 Chronicles 5:24 ) (B.C. 782.) A priest of high rank, head of the second or third of the twenty-one courses which are apparently enumerated in ( Nehemiah 10:2-8 ; 12:1 , 12 ) (B.C. 446-410). The father of Jazaniah the Rechabite. ( Jeremiah 35:3 ) (B.C. before 606.) (whom Jehovah has appointed) was “the son of Hilkiah of the priests that were in Anathoth.” ( Jeremiah 1:1 ) History.—He was called very young (B.C. 626) to the prophetic office, and prophesied forty-two years; but we have hardly any mention of him during the eighteen years between his call and Josiah’s death, or during the short reign of Jehoahaz. During the reigns of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin, B.C. 607-598, he opposed the Egyptian party, then dominant in Jerusalem, and maintained that they only way of safety lay in accepting the supremacy of the Chaldeans. He was accordingly accused of treachery, and men claiming to be prophets had the “word of Jehovah” to set against his. ( Jeremiah 14:13 ; 23:7 ) As the danger from the Chaldeans became more threatening, the persecution against Jeremiah grew hotter. ch. 18. The people sought his life; then follows the scene in ( Jeremiah 19:10-13 ) he was set, however, “as a fenced brazen wall,” ch. ( Jeremiah 15:20 ) and went on with his work, reproving king and nobles and people. The danger which Jeremiah had so long foretold at last came near. First Jehoiakim, and afterwards his successor Jehoiachin, were carried into exile, 2Kin 24 ; but Zedekiah, B.C. 597-586, who was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, was more friendly to the prophet, though powerless to help him. The approach of an Egyptian army, and the consequent departure of the Chaldeans, made the position of Jeremiah full of danger, and he sought to effect his escape from the city; but he was seized and finally thrown into a prison-pit to die, but was rescued. On the return of the Chaldean army he showed his faith in God’s promises, and sought to encourage the people by purchasing the field at Anathoth which his kinsman Hanameel wished to get rid of. ( Jeremiah 32:6-9 ) At last the blow came. The city was taken, the temple burnt. The king and his princes shared the fate of Jehoiachin. The prophet gave utterance to his sorrow in the Lamentations. After the capture of Jerusalem, B.C. 586, by the Chaldeans, we find Jeremiah receiving better treatment; but after the death of Gedaliah, the people, disregarding his warnings, took refuge in Egypt, carrying the prophet with them. In captivity his words were sharper and stronger than ever. He did not shrink, even there, from speaking of the Chaldean king once more as “the servant of Jehovah.” ( Jeremiah 43:10 ) After this all is uncertain, but he probably died in Egypt. Character.—Canon Cook says of Jeremiah, “His character is most interesting. We find him sensitive to a most painful degree, timid, shy, hopeless, desponding, constantly complaining and dissatisfied with the course of events, but never flinching from duty...Timid in resolve, he was unflinching in execution; as fearless when he had to face the whole world as he was dispirited and prone to murmuring when alone with God. Judged by his own estimate of himself, he was feeble, and his mission a failure; really, in the hour of action and when duty called him, he was in very truth ’a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land.’ ch. ( Jeremiah 1:18 ) he was a noble example of the triumph of the moral over the physical nature.” (It is not strange that he was desponding when we consider his circumstances. He saw the nation going straight to irremediable ruin, and turning a deaf ear to all warnings. “A reign of terror had commenced (in the preceding reign), during which not only the prophets but all who were distinguished for religion and virtue were cruelly murdered.” “The nation tried to extirpate the religion of Jehovah;” “Idolatry was openly established,” “and such was the universal dishonesty that no man trusted another, and society was utterly disorganized.” How could one who saw the nation about to reap the awful harvest they had been sowing, and yet had a vision of what they might have been and might yet be, help indulging in “Lamentations”?—ED.)
“There can be little doubt that the book of Jeremiah grew out of the roll which Baruch wrote down at the prophet’s mouth in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. ch. ( Jeremiah 36:2 ) Apparently the prophets kept written records of their predictions, and collected into larger volumes such of them as were intended for permanent use.”—Canon Cook. In the present order we have two great divisions:— I. Chs. 1-45. Prophecies delivered at various times, directed mainly to Judah, or connected with Jeremiah’s personal history. II. Chs. 46-51. Prophecies connected with other nations. Looking more closely into each of these divisions, we have the following sections: Chs. 1-21, including prophecies from the thirteenth year of Josiah to the fourth of Jehoiakim; ch. 21; belongs to the later period. Chs. 22-25. Shorter prophecies, delivered at different times, against the kings of Judah and the false prophets. Ch. ( Jeremiah 25:13 , 14 ) evidently marks the conclusion of a series of prophecies; and that which follows, ch. ( Jeremiah 25:15-38 ) the germ of the fuller predictions in chs. 46-49, has been placed here as a kind of completion to the prophecy of the seventy years and the subsequent fall of Babylon. Chs. 26-28. The two great prophecies of the fall of Jerusalem, and the history connected with them. Chs. 29-31. The message of comfort for the exiles in Babylon. Chs. 32-44. The history of the last two years before the capture of Jerusalem, and of Jeremiah’s work int hem and in the period that followed. Chs. 46-51. The prophecies against foreign nations, ending with the great prediction against Babylon. The supplementary narrative of ch. 52.
(whose people are many). The first king of the divided kingdom of Israel, B.C. 975-954, was the son of an Ephraimite of the name of Nebat. He was raised by Solomon to the rank of superintendent over the taxes and labors exacted from the tribe of Ephraim. ( 1 Kings 11:28 ) he made the most of his position, and at last was perceived by Solomon to be aiming at the monarchy. He was leaving Jerusalem, when he was met by Ahijah the prophet, who gave him the assurance that, on condition of obedience to his laws, God would establish for him a kingdom and dynasty equal to that of David. ( 1 Kings 11:29-40 ) The attempts of Solomon to cut short Jeroboam’s designs occasioned his flight into Egypt. There he remained until Solomon’s death. After a year’s longer stay in Egypt, during which Jeroboam married Ano, the elder sister of the Egyptian queen Tahpenes, he returned to Shechem, where took place the conference with Rehoboam [ Rehoboam ], and the final revolt which ended in the elevation of Jeroboam to the throne of the northern kingdom. Now occurred the fatal error of his policy. Fearing that the yearly pilgrimages to Jerusalem would undo all the work which he effected, he took the bold step of rending the religious unity of the nation, which was as yet unimpaired, asunder. He caused two golden figures of Mnevis, the sacred calf, to be made and set up at the two extremities of his kingdom, one at Dan and the other at Bethel. It was while dedicating the altar at Bethel that a prophet from Judah suddenly appeared, who denounced the altar, and foretold its desecration by Josiah, and violent overthrow. The king, stretching out his hand to arrest the prophet, felt it withered and paralyzed, and only at the prophet’s prayer saw it restored, and acknowledged his divine mission. Jeroboam was at constant war with the house of Judah, but the only act distinctly recorded is a battle with Abijah, son of Rehoboam, in which he was defeated. The calamity was severely felt; he never recovered the blow, and soon after died, in the 22d year of his reign, ( 2 Chronicles 13:20 ) and was buried in his ancestral sepulchre. ( 1 Kings 14:20 ) Jeroboam II., the son of Joash, the fourth of the dynasty of Jehu. (B.C. 825-784.) The most prosperous of the kings of Israel. He repelled the Syrian invaders, took their capital city Damascus, ( 2 Kings 14:28 ) and recovered the whole of the ancient dominion from Hamah to the Dead Sea. ch ( 2 Kings 14:25 ) Ammon and Moab were reconquered, and the transjordanic tribes were restored to their territory, ( 2 Kings 13:5 ; 1 Chronicles 5:17-22 ) but it was merely an outward restoration.
(whose brother (i.e. helper) is Jehovah). The son of Asaph, and chronicler or keeper of the records to Hezekiah. ( Isaiah 36:3 , 11 , 22 ) (B.C. 776.) The son or grandson of Zimmah, a Gershonite. ( 1 Chronicles 6:21 ) The third son of Obed-edom, ( 1 Chronicles 26:4 ) a Korhite, and one of the doorkeepers appointed by David. (B.C. 1014.) A Gershonite, the son of Zeimmah and father of Eden. ( 2 Chronicles 29:12 ) The son of Joahaz, and annalist or keeper of the records to Josiah. ( 2 Chronicles 34:8 ) (B.C. 623.)
(whom Jehovah holds), the father of Joah, the chronicler or keeper of the records to King Josiah. ( 2 Chronicles 34:8 ) (B.C. before 623.)
(gift or grace of God). Son of Azariah and grandson of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, and father of Azariah, 3. ( 1 Chronicles 6:9 , 10 ) Authorized Version. Son of Elioenai, the son of Neariah, the son of Shemaiah, in the line of Zerubbabel’s heirs. ( 1 Chronicles 3:24 ) (B.C. after 406.) The son of Kaereah, and one of the captains of the scattered remnants of the army of Judah, who escaped in the final attack upon Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. (B.C. 588.) After the murder of Gedaliah, Johanan was one of the foremost in the pursuit of his assassin, and rescued the captives he had carried off from Mizpah. ( Jeremiah 41:11-16 ) Fearing the vengeance of the Chaldeans, the captains, with Johanan at their head, notwithstanding the warnings of Jeremiah, retired into Egypt. The first-born son of Josiah king of Judah. ( 1 Chronicles 3:15 ) (B.C. 638-610.) A valiant Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag. ( 1 Chronicles 12:4 ) (B.C. 1055.) A Gadite warrior who followed David. ( 1 Chronicles 12:12 ) The father of Azariah, an Ephraimite in the time of Ahaz. ( 2 Chronicles 28:12 ) The son of Hakkatan, and chief of the Bene-Azgad who returned with Ezra. ( Ezra 8:12 ) The son of Eliashib, one of the chief Levites. ( Ezra 10:6 ; Nehemiah 12:23 ) The son of Tobiah the Ammonite. ( Nehemiah 6:18 )
(saviour, or whose help is Jehovah). His name appears in the various forms of Hoshea H Oshea , Oshea , Jehoshua , Jeshua and Jesus . The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. ( 1 Chronicles 7:27 ) (B.C. 1530-1420.) He was nearly forty years old when he shared in the hurried triumph of the exodus. He is mentioned first in connection with the fight against Amalek at Rephidim, when he was chosen by Moses to lead the Israelites. ( Exodus 17:9 ) Soon afterward he was one of the twelve chiefs who were sent, ( Numbers 13:17 ) to explore the land of Canaan, and one of the two, ch. ( Numbers 14:6 ) who gave an encouraging report of their journey. Moses, shortly before his death, was directed, ( Numbers 27:18 ) to invest Joshua with authority over the people. God himself gave Joshua a charge by the mouth of the dying lawgiver. (31:14,23) Under the direction of God again renewed, ( Joshua 1:1 ) Joshua assumed the command of the people at Shittim, sent spies into Jericho, crossed the Jordan, fortified a camp at Gilgal, circumcised the people, kept the passover, and was visited by the Captain of the Lord’s host. A miracle made the fall of Jericho more terrible to the Canaanites. In the great battle of Beth-horon the Amorites were signally routed, and the south country was open to the Israelites. Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal, master of half of Palestine. He defeated the Canaanites under Jabin king of Hazor. In six years, six tribes, with thirty-one petty chiefs, were conquered. Joshua, now stricken in years, proceeded to make the division of the conquered land. Timnath-serah in Mount Ephraim was assigned as Joshua’s peculiar inheritance. After an interval of rest, Joshua convoked an assembly from all Israel. He delivered two solemn addresses, recorded in ( Joshua 23:24 ) He died at the age of 110 years, and was buried in his own city, Timnath-serah. An inhabitant of Beth-shemesh, in whose land was the stone at which the milch-kine stopped when they drew the ark of God with the offerings of the Philistines from Ekron to Beth-shemesh. ( 1 Samuel 6:14 , 18 ) (B.C. 1124.) A governor of the city who gave his name to a gate of Jerusalem. ( 2 Kings 23:8 ) (In the reign of Josiah, B.C. 628.) Jeshua the son of Jozadak. ( Haggai 1:14 ; 2:12 ; Zechariah 3:1 ) etc.
(whom Jehovah heals). The son of Amon and Jedidah, succeeded his father B.C. 641, in the eighty years of his age, and reigned 31 years. His history is contained in ( 2 Kings 22:1 ; 2 Kings 24:30 ; 2 Chronicles 34:1 ; 2 Chronicles 35:1 ) ... and the first twelve chapters of Jeremiah throw much light upon the general character of the Jews in his day. He began in the eighth year of his reign to seek the Lord; and in his twelfth year, and for six years afterward, in a personal progress throughout all the land of Judah and Israel, he destroyed everywhere high places, groves, images and all outward signs and relics of idolatry. The temple was restored under a special commission; and in the course of the repairs Hilkiah the priest found that book of the law of the Lord which quickened so remarkably the ardent zeal of the king. He was aided by Jeremiah the prophet in spreading through his kingdom the knowledge and worship of Jehovah. The great day of Josiah’s life was the day of the passover in the eighteenth year of his reign. After this his endeavors to abolish every trace of idolatry and superstition were still carried on; but the time drew near which had been indicated by Huldah. ( 2 Kings 22:20 ) When Pharaoh-necho went from Egypt to Carchemish to carry on his war along the seacoast. Necho reluctantly paused and gave him battle in the valley of Esdraelon. Josiah was mortally wounded, and died before he could reach Jerusalem. He was buried with extraordinary honors. The son of Zephaniah, at whose house took place the solemn and symbolical crowning of Joshua the high priest. ( Zechariah 6:10 ) (B.C. about 1520.)
Josiah, king of Judah. ( Matthew 1:10 , 11 )
(Jehovah justifies). A captain of the thousands of Manasseh, who deserted to David before the battle of Gilboa. ( 1 Chronicles 12:20 ) (B.C. 1053.) A hero of Manasseh, like the preceding. ( 1 Chronicles 12:20 ) A Levite in the reign of Hezekiah. ( 2 Chronicles 31:13 ) (B.C. 726.) A chief Levite in the reign of Josiah. ( 2 Chronicles 35:9 ) A Levite, son of Jeshua, in the days of Ezra. ( Ezra 8:33 ) (B.C. 459.) Probably identical with No. 7. A priest of the sons of Pashur, who had married a foreign wife. ( Ezra 10:22 ) A Levite among those who returned with Ezra and had married foreign wives. He is probably identical with Jozabad the Levite, ( Nehemiah 8:7 ) and with Jozabad who presided over the outer work of the temple. ( Nehemiah 11:16 ) (B.C. 459.)
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