'Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of

the land' (1:14).

This dreadful symbol finds its fulfilment in the siege of Jerusalem and

the added chapter 52 is placed where it is, so that the word spoken by

Jeremiah should be seen to be true.  In like manner Isaiah 36 to 39 is past

history, pledging the fulfilment of future prophecy.

Jeremiah's commission is given in chapter 1:4 -19, and includes the two

symbols already referred to:

'See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms,

to root out ... and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to

plant' (1:10).

Reference is made to this in chapter 31:

'And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched (same word as is

translated "hasten" in 1:12) over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and

to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to

build, and to plant, saith the Lord' (31:28).

The first set of prophecies are addressed to the Jews at Jerusalem (2:1

to 20:18).  The second set of prophecies are addressed to the Gentiles (46 to

51).  There are also historical portions that deal with the times of

Jehoiakim (21 to 35), and to Zedekiah (37 to 45), whilst central to

the structure of the book is the mission of Baruch to Jehoiakim.  Baruch

acted as scribe to Jeremiah while he was a prisoner, and Baruch performed one

or two important tasks, each of which had symbolic importance.

He was charged by Jeremiah to preserve the evidences that the

prophet had purchased a field in Anathoth which belonged to his uncle

He wrote the words of the Lord out of the mouth of Jeremiah, and

took the roll and read it in the house of the Lord (36).

He was warned in a special revelation against self -seeking and

his life was granted to him 'for a prey' (45).

The import of the two charges entrusted to Baruch is the utter

faithfulness of the Word of the Lord even in spite of all appearance to the

contrary, and the importance of the word in the eyes of the Lord Himself.

The field in Anathoth.-- Isaiah 10:5 -32 speaks of the Assyrian

invasion, and verses 28 to 32 give geographical details of the invasion.

Among the towns listed is Anathoth, concerning which Isaiah utters the lament

'O poor Anathoth' (10:30).  This town, three miles north of Jerusalem, was

the birthplace of Jeremiah (1:1).  The men of Anathoth were threatened with

sword and famine in the year of their visitation, because they threatened

Jeremiah the prophet (11:21 -23).  Jeremiah had sent a letter to the residue

of the elders which were carried away captive by Nebuchadnezzar, saying:

'Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the

fruit of them' (29:5),

for 'after seventy years' the Lord promised to visit them and perform His

good word causing them to return.  A false priest wrote to the people that

were in Jerusalem, saying: