Book Notice: Goldingay on Jeremiah for Everyone

John Goldingay 

Jeremiah for Everyone
London: SPCK, 2015.
Available at Amazon.com

Goldingay’s magnum opus is nearly complete with the publication of Jeremiah for Everyone, while Lamentations and Ezekiel for Everyone will be available in April 2016, followed by Daniel and the Twelve for Everyone in June 2016.

Goldingay offers an introduction which sets the Book of Jeremiah in its Old Testament context at the time of the Babylonian Exile (587 BC). Jeremiah’s ministry lasted over 40 years. His warnings fell on deaf ears as the disaster was so long coming that Jeremiah lost credibility as a prophet. The Book of Jeremiah contains many stories from the life of the prophet and the kings of that time, along with a record of his prophecies, prayers, sermons and laments. Chapters 1-25 are mostly prophecies, chapters 26-45 are narratives, and chapters 46-51 contain prophecies about the surrounding nations. Chapter 52 is a resume of the story, repeating 2 Kings 25.

As in each of these volumes, Goldingay gives his own translation followed by a contemporary story then a comment on the text. Passages are elucidated by Goldingay’s thorough knowledge of the text and historical settings. A glossary at the back covers terms such as Assyrians, Ephraimites, Persians, Torah, remnant, Second Temple, exile, Zion.

Jeremiah’s 52 chapters are presented in 58 portions, which could be read daily over a two month period or spread out over a year. This volume is a very accessible introduction to this complex but compelling prophet.

Jill Firth lectures in Hebrew and Old Testament at Ridley College Melbourne.