Jeremiah:Too Young

By B. G. Brainard

Jeremiah was born in the town of Anathoth and his father Hilkiah was a Jewish priest. When Josiah became king of Judah, his father was summoned to minister at the temple in Jerusalem. When he was twelve, Yahweh commissioned Jeremiah to be a prophet. He argued he was too young and did not know how to speak. The Lord said to not be afraid for he would put his words in his mouth and he would be a prophet to the nations. Then he touched Jeremiah's mouth. While in scribal school, Jeremiah met Baruch, who became his best friend and recorder of God’s messages to the people. The character traits and practices Jeremiah was to acquire were to include not being afraid, standing up to speak, speaking as told, and going where sent. At this time King Josiah began to assert the independence of Judah, during the waning power and influence of the Assyrians. God told Jeremiah to prophesy regarding Jerusalem's destruction at the hand of invaders from the north due to the people being unfaithful to the laws of the covenant. For they had forsaken the God of Israel by worshiping Baal on every high place, and gone so far as to offer their children as a burnt offering on those altars, which was something God had neither considered nor commanded them to do. After Jeremiah’s father died and his mother moved back to Anathoth, Jeremiah went to live with his mother’s friend and near relative, Huldah the prophetess, and her husband Shallum, keeper of the wardrobe, who lived in the Second Quarter of Jerusalem. The people deviated far from God and continually broke his covenant, which caused God to withdraw his blessings. Jeremiah was called to proclaim to the people that their punishment would result in God bringing on them war, starvation, and disease until they were completely destroyed from the land that he had given them and their ancestors. The priest Pashur, a temple official in Jerusalem had Jeremiah beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin for a day. Afterwards, Jeremiah laments over the difficulty of speaking the word of God, becoming a laughingstock, and target of mockery. He confesses that when he did try to shut the word of the Lord up inside him and to not mention the name of God, the word became like fire in his heart and he could not hold it in. But the king’s reforms could not save Judah and Jerusalem from destruction, because of the sins of Manasseh, Josiah’s grandfather, and the resumption of Judah’s idolatrous ways. The yearning of the nation for false gods after Josiah's death was such that the people quickly returned to the worship of the gods that are not gods of the surrounding nations. Then during the reign of King Zedekiah, the Lord instructed Jeremiah to make ox yokes for the representatives from the surrounding countries of the message that the nations would be subject to the yoke of the king of Babylon and his people and to wear one himself. The false prophet Hananiah opposed Jeremiah's message. He took the yoke off of Jeremiah's neck, broke it, and prophesied to the priests and all the people that within two years the Lord would break the yoke of the king of Babylon. The Lord told Jeremiah to tell Hananiah that he broke the yoke of wood, but he would replace it with a yoke of iron under the king of Babylon. Jeremiah continued to reveal the sins of his people and to preach the coming consequences of their idolatry. When Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon successfully sieged Jerusalem, Jeremiah told the people to submit, go into exile, and all would go well with them. The obstinate Judeans refused to listen to what Yahweh Almighty had to say through Jeremiah the prophet and did their best to do away with him. Nevertheless, he faithfully continued to preach after the fall of Judah and Jerusalem that their God would restore them to the land of their ancestors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B. G. Brainard
• Release date: Apr 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370677177

B. G. Brainard

B.G. Brainard’s passion as an historical fiction author is to bring the Hebrew Scriptures to life one book at a time through meticulous ancient Near East research and numerous excursions to the Middle East. Her historical novels sympathetically imagine the life of each character within the known parameters of the biblical story and historical record. The author lives in Oregon with her husband and divinely appointed Jeep Cherokee.

Book preview

Chapter 1 - A Time To Celebrate

Although he was only five years old at the time, Jeremiah would never forget when his father moved the family to Jerusalem at the command of the king. Three years later his mother explained to him that when Josiah was the same age, he had become king over Judah and Jerusalem and also revived Yahweh worship. Then King Josiah requested his father, Hilkiah, to come and help serve their God in the house of the Lord.

Now that he was twelve years old and almost as tall as his father, Jeremiah wanted answers. Why at age five had the family been forced to move away from their relatives in the Benjaminite village of Anathoth to the city of Jerusalem? As he pondered these things, his father entered the courtyard gate to their home in the Second District of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah looked around to see if they were alone. He squinted his eyes, and gathered about him the injustice he felt as a teenager like a cloak. He took a tentative step forward. Father, I need to speak with you.

Hilkiah shook his head as though to clear his thoughts. Yes, my son. He pointed toward a stone bench. Sit. Tell me what has caused that ferocious scowl upon your usually placid face?

The priest sat down, but Jeremiah continued to stand. Father, why did the high priest summon you along with the other priests to minister at the temple here in Jerusalem? No one seems to have cared how hard it would be for me to leave my cousins behind in Anathoth. He rubbed his slim hands together. We have no relatives here, and I don’t have any real friends. I want us to go back home.

His father patted the bench. Sit, my son.

Jeremiah plopped down on the pavement facing his father.

Hilkiah leaned back. Things do not always turn out the way we would like them to. Especially when we live according to the will of the Lord our God and the king. You know that we are of the tribe of Levi and that I am a priest. It was a great honor to be asked to officiate at the temple of our God here in Jerusalem. Especially at the time of cultic reform under King Josiah when the people in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledged themselves to act in accordance with the covenant of the God of their fathers.

Jeremiah rolled his eyes.

His father reached down and patted his shoulder. Can I tell you a story of a young king, who listened to godly advisors and his own heart?

Jeremiah blinked. All right, but I hope it is not too boring.

Hilkiah’s eyes twinkled. The king of course was Josiah. He did what was right in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the ways of his ancestor King David. The young king did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left in following the ways of our God.

Jeremiah wrapped his arms around his knees. What does it mean that he did not turn to his right or left?

"It means that in the twelfth year of his reign, King Josiah began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the idolatrous high places, Asherah poles, carved idols, and cast images allowed by his father King Amon before him. After reigning two years, Josiah’s father was assassinated by his own servants, who conspired against him.

The people of the land were so appalled by the grievous behavior of the officials that they killed all those who had conspired against King Amon. Then they made his young son Josiah king.

Jeremiah gulped. And I remember mother telling me he was only eight years old. With no father to guide him to be king over our people.

Well, by the age of twenty he did come to the realization that his father had not done right in the eyes of the Lord. Under King Josiah’s directions the altars of the Baals were torn down. He also cut to pieces the incense altars on every high place. He smashed the Asherah poles, idols, and images into pieces, and scattered the remains over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He burnt the bones of the priests on their altars, and thus purified Judah and Jerusalem from much evil.

Jeremiah sat down beside his father. What else did he do?

The king did likewise in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far away as Naphtali, and in the ruins about them. He tore down the unholy altars and Asherah poles and crushed the idols into powder. He cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel and then returned back here to Jerusalem.

Jeremiah sat still with a pensive look about him.

His father examined his cuticles and rubbed his fingers. To answer your question, my son, and explain why we had to move to Jerusalem I will tell you about the miraculous thing that happened in the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s reign.

Jeremiah leaned forward. A miracle happened?

Yes, a miracle. After Josiah purged the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azalea; Messiah governor of Jerusalem; and Joash son of Joahaz the chronicler to repair the house of Yahweh his God. They went to the high priest and gave the money that had been collected to Hilkiah—

Not to be confused with you my father with the same name. Jeremiah grinned.

"Indeed, my son. And the other Hilkiah delivered the money that was brought into the temple of God to the Levitical doorkeepers. They also collected donations from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim, and the entire remnant of Israel, and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

With it they paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for the joists and beams of the buildings to replace what the previous kings of Judah had allowed to fall into disrepair.

Jeremiah got up and began to pace. He nodded for his father to continue.

Hilkiah bobbed his head. The men did their work faithfully. Directing them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites, descendants of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descendants of the Kohathites. The Levites, all of them skilled in musical instruments, had charge of the laborers, and supervised all the workmen going from project to project. Others of them were employed as scribes, officials, and doorkeepers. Hilkiah stood and flexed his back muscles, and then rolled his head back and forth. Now we are going to get to the miracle.

Father and son began to stroll around the courtyard. Hilkiah stopped under a palm tree. "While the Levies were bringing out the money that had been given to the house of Yahweh, the other Hilkiah the priest discovered a book of the law of Yahweh that had been given through Moses. The high priest turned and shouted at Shaphan the scribe, ‘I have discovered a book of the law in the house of Yahweh,’ and handed it to Shaphan.

Father, how long had the book of the law been in the temple?

No one knows my son, but it was a miracle to find it in such good shape that it was still readable.

Jeremiah wet his lips. It was indeed a miracle, and your story of the young king is not boring.

His father grinned. "Then Shaphan the scribe took the book to the king and reported to him, ‘All that was entrusted to your servants, they are doing. They have paid out the money that was found in the house of Yahweh, and have delivered it into the hands of the supervisors and the workmen.’ Then the scribe said to the king, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his garments. Then he commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, ‘Go, inquire of Yahweh for me, and for them who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book which is found. For the anger of Yahweh has been poured out upon us, because our fathers did not obey the word of the Lord by doing everything written in this book.’

So, Father, what did the king do?

High Priest Hilkiah and the other men sent by the king went to the Second District of Jerusalem to speak to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokehath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe.

Father forgive me for interrupting, but is that the same Huldah who is mother’s friend? The lady who lives down the lane? She is a prophetess?

His father nodded. The one and same. Also, although I am not sure of the details, she is reported to be a distant relative of ours through her husband.

Hum, a woman prophet and a relative. How very interesting. Jeremiah settled back down in the shade.

"Then Huldah told them that Yahweh God of Israel said they were to tell the man who sent them to her that Yahweh said, ‘Behold, I am about to bring disaster upon this place, and upon its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book, which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My fury will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished.’

Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh. This is what Yahweh God of Israel says concerning the words that you have heard, ‘Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and against its inhabitants, and humbled yourself before me, tore your garments and wept before me, I have heard you,’ declares Yahweh. ‘Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you will be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes will not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon its inhabitants.’

Jeremiah contorted his face. What is this evil that she says God is going to bring upon us and this city?

Hilkiah’s scraggly, black eyebrows knit together. Not now my son. Let me finish why it is that we have come to live in this place.

Yes, Father. Did they take her answer back to the king?

They did. And then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the house of Yahweh, accompanied by all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites. All the people were there, great and small. He read aloud all the words of the book of the covenant that was discovered in the house of Yahweh by the other Hilkiah.

His father smiled. "Then the king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant before Yahweh. He agreed to follow Yahweh and to obey his commandments, laws, and statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in the book. He also commanded the priests in the outlying areas to return to the city of our God.

"Then he had everyone present in Jerusalem and Benjamin stand with him. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. Likewise Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the lands that belonged to the people of Israel, and also inspired those in the land to worship Yahweh their God.

"In obedience to our God, Josiah celebrated Yahweh’s Passover in Jerusalem. The Levites slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the first month. He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in their service to the temple of Yahweh. He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel about things consecrated to Yahweh, ‘Put the Holy Ark in the temple that Solomon son of David, king of Israel, built for our God. Do not carry it upon your shoulders. Now serve Yahweh your God and his people Israel. Prepare yourselves by your families according to your divisions, as instructed by King David of Israel and his son Solomon.

‘"Stand in the sanctuary, and together with the Levites represent the family divisions of your countrymen. Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your countrymen to do what Yahweh commanded through Moses.’

"From his own royal flocks and herds, King Josiah supplied the people with thirty thousand lambs and goats for the Passover sacrifice, as well as three thousand cattle. His officials also willingly contributed to the people, priests, and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, leaders of the house of God, supplied two thousand six hundred Passover sacrifices and three hundred cattle. Also Conaniah, and his brothers Shemaiah and Nathaniel, along with Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, officials of the Levites, supplied the Levites with five thousand Passover sacrifices and five hundred cattle.

"Preparations were made, and the priests stood at their posts and the Levites in their divisions, according to the king’s commandment. They slaughtered the Passover lambs and the priests sprinkled the blood, while the Levites flayed the animals.

"They reserved the burnt offerings and the cattle for the family divisions of the people, as written in the book of Moses. They roasted the Passover sacrifices with fire according to the ordinance. They boiled the holy offerings in pots, kettles, and pans.

"They quickly served them to all the people. Afterwards they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were offering burnt offerings and fat portions until evening. The Levites made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron. The musicians, descendants of Asaph, stood at their posts, according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s prophet. The guards at the various gates did not need to leave their posts, for their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

"So all the preparations for the service of Yahweh were made that day, as the Passover was observed and the burnt sacrifices were offered on the altar of Yahweh according to the commandment of King Josiah.

The Israelites observed the Passover, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. A Passover like this had not been observed in Israel for almost five hundred years, since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had observed a Passover like the one celebrated by Josiah, the priests, the Levites, all the people of Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah squinted his eyes. I don’t remember much of the Passover celebration, but I will never forget dwelling in the leafy tabernacle in this courtyard for the Feast of Booths that fall.

Yes, my son it reminded your mother and I of the loving-kindness of our God to deliver our people from Egyptian slavery, and his sustenance during the wilderness years before entering the Promised Land. Next year will be a special year when we will once again celebrate the week-long Feast of Booths celebration and the reading of the law here in the city of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah could hardly wait.

Chapter 2 - The Call

Finally the weeklong celebration of the Feast of Booths was about to commence, and the now twelve-year-old Jeremiah would have a week off from temple scribal school. But of course, his teacher, Pashur son of Buzi, never missed an opportunity to infringe on his pupils’ free time.

Jeremiah squirmed with anticipation only to hear the priest say the very thing he had been dreading. Before I let you go, I have a homework assignment.

Pashur waved his hands, "Yes, yes. I am well aware the Feast of Booths is a time to relax and enjoy family and friends. As you have already begun to memorize the book of the law found so unexpectedly in the temple, you are well aware that Moses gave a special command to the people before they entered the Promised Land.

The students shrugged, and Pashur said, He told them that every seven years, at the time of the year of remission of debts, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel appears before the Lord your God at this place, the law was to be read in the hearing of all Israel.

Jeremiah watched his friend and fellow classmate Baruch raise his hand.

After looking around the room, Baruch said, Most of us were only six or seven years old, but I remember listening along with my parents to the first reading of the law that any of our people had ever heard.

Pashur sighed loudly. The book of the law was lost for centuries, but when it was found it was revered by the young King Josiah. He chose to follow after the Lord’s command through Moses to gather the people—men, women, and children, as well as the foreigners living within our gates—to hear, learn about, and fear Yahweh your God, being careful to observe all the words of the law.

He surveyed the students. So their descendants, that is you, each and every one of you, would also hear about and learn to fear Yahweh your God for as long as you live in the land that our ancestors crossed over the Jordan River to possess those many generations ago.

The boys began to whisper amongst themselves.

Their teacher scowled. Your assignment is to listen with ears wide open to the book of the law; not just because it is a homework assignment. But because Moses, our most revered prophet and deliverer, expects all of us who live in the land, young and old, to hear and learn to fear the Lord your God.

Baruch whispered to Jeremiah. It’s too bad Moses is not alive to tell us all about his adventures.

Pashur swung his head right to left and back again. I know all of you have been working hard to form the Hebrew letters of the alphabet in the prescribed scribal manner along with the proper procedure for the transmission of temple documents, correspondence, and inventory records.

Jeremiah wiggled his toes and gave a low moan.

Pashur dug a piece of wax from his ear and flicked it across the room. We are all anxious to join the festivities, but you must never forget that as temple scribes you will be required to exhibit an exceptional vocabulary and knowledge of current and historical events. Along with orthodox practices related to the Lord our God. For in the not too distant future you will be expected to join the ranks of the Levites.

Jeremiah’s eyes grew large. He exchanged a glance with Baruch. His father had warned him that priests must always respect Levites. Even if the Levites were forbidden to serve inside the temple, they still ministered within its precincts. He wondered where the lecture was going, since most of his classmates appeared to be paying little attention.

Part of your expertise will require knowing the law of Moses, from which the king or high priest will give a daily reading during the Feast of Booths. Therefore, your assignment will require you not only to listen intently to each and every word, but to report back what you learned during the week. Pashur flapped his scrawny arms. Now go and do not do anything to embarrass me during this celebration of God’s goodness to our people in the land. For this is his gift to us, so long as we obey his commandments.

Jeremiah finished packing his scribal pouch and hurried to catch up with Baruch, who always seemed to be quicker and wittier than him. Like the other boys he was glad to take a break from his studies, but most of all he welcomed the chance to spend time alone with his new friend.

Baruch stood waiting in the temple courtyard. Is your family’s tabernacle ready for tomorrow?

Jeremiah shrugged. Father has not been feeling well, so some of the temple servants volunteered to gather palm branches and tree limbs for us. The frame looked like the slightest breeze would topple it over. Everything else was still lying in a pile in the front courtyard when I left this morning.

I could come over and help you build it, if they haven’t finished. I helped my father set ours up last night.

The head taller and solidly built Jeremiah began to run. Mother will have something good for us to eat.

Baruch sprinted ahead of his companion. What are we waiting for? I’m starving.

On the fourth day of the festival, Jeremiah stood in his usual place next to his father and mother watching Baruch and his family across the temple courtyard. He shifted his eyes to the high priest, as he took his place on the platform. He opened the scroll he was holding, and began to read from the book of the law,  When you enter into the land that Yahweh your God is about to give you, you must not learn to imitate the abominable practices of those nations.

The high priest searched the faces of the restless crowd with eyes like an eagle. "There must not be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, one who conjures up spirits, a practitioner of the occult, or a necromancer. Whoever does these things is detestable to Yahweh, and because of these abominations Yahweh your God is about to drive them out before you. You must be blameless before Yahweh your God.

"For those nations that you are about to dispossess listen to those who practice witchcraft and diviners; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not given you permission to do such things. Yahweh your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you—from your countrymen; you must listen to him.

This is according to what you asked of Yahweh your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let us not hear the voice of Yahweh our God, or see this great fire anymore lest we die.’

Jeremiah furrowed his brow and wondered whom he was speaking about. Then remembered it was Moses speaking to their God. He turned his attention back to the reading of the law.

The high priest read the words of Yahweh to Moses, "What they have said is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their countrymen. I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them whatever I command. I will hold accountable anyone who does not pay attention to the words that the prophet speaks in my name.

"But the prophet who presumes to speak anything in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.

"And