Jeremiah addresses the nations of the world, and begins with Egypt. In the first part of this chapter, the prophet tells Egypt that it will suffer shame and defeat at the hands of the Babylonians when they come to fight them in Carchemish. Carchemish is a city located in Syria near the Euphrates river. The arrogance of the Egyptians will be their downfall. This battle will establish Babylon as the primary power of the middle east.

In a flashback to the days of Yehoyakim, we learn oif the concerns and suffering of jeremiah's faithful scribe Baruch. God guarantees that Baruch's life will be spared throughout all of the coming wars, as long as he remains humble and does not seek personal glory.

Jeremiah and the people have very different versions of history, and tragically a very different understanding of God. The people cling to the notion of a transactional God who wants to be appeased. Jeremiah continues to teach that what God wants is for us to live according to the ways He teaches us, not incense and sacrifices. The people refuse to take heed, and insist in continuing their behavior. Thus the Judean presence in Egypt will tragically be destroyed just as the presence in Judea was destroyed.

The Judean refugees ignore Jeremiah's advice, and they leave the land of Judea and head to Egypt. What a tragic turn of history. The people as a nation was born escaping Egypt and they built a nation in their own land. But they failed due to their sins and they now abandon their land and seek safety in the land of their former oppressors. Jeremiah however, warns them verty clearly that things will not work out for them in Egypt.

The people turn to Jeremiah for advice, do we leave Judea and seek refuge in Egypt, or do we risk the wrath of babylon and remain here? Jeremiah gets his answer from God. You have nothing to fear from the King of Babylon, remain in your land and build it. Rely on God, not the Egyptians. If you run to Egypt you will not survive. However, the people have already made up their mind.

In one of the most tragic events of Jewish history, Yishmael ben Netanya assassinates the last remaining hope for the people of Judah in their homeland. He kills the soldiers, and takes the civilians captive. When the news gets out, Yochanan and the other leaders loyal to Gedaliah rescue the captives and Yishmael runs away to the protection of his sponsors in Ammon. The people gather together to decide what to do next. Egypt seems like their only safe refuge.

Jeremiah joins Gedaliah as the scattered Judean refugees begin to stream back to Judah. Just as there seems to be home for a future of the the Judeans in their land, jealousy and intrigue threaten to destroy it.

The Babylonian Army breeches the walls of Jerusalem, and the city falls to the enemy. The King's family and the nobility tries to escape, but they are captured by the Babylonians. As God had told Jeremiah, the King's family is brutally murdered, and Zedekiah is brought in chains into captivity. The conquerers leave the poor and previously enslaved Judeans in Judea, and appoint Gedalyahu as their giverner. Jeremiah chooses to remain with the remnant of his people. There is still hope that Judea can survive under the humble leadership of Gedalyahu.

Again accused of being a traitor by the King's advisors, the King allows them to throw the prophet into a pit of mud to die. Another sympathetic servant of the King, begs for permission to rescue Jeremiah. The King grants him permission to take him out of the pit. In a secret meeting, the King Zedekiah asks Jeremiah for advice and regarding his fate. Zedekiah is too much of a coward to act against his advisors, and refuses to heed the prophet's advice.

This chapter begins Jeremiah's description of the final days of the Kingdom of Judah. The siege of Jerusalem is at its' height, and the King and the people have rejected Jeremiah's admonitions. The Egyptian Army marches north to help relieve Jerusalem, but they are quickly repulsed by the Chaldeans. Jeremiah is accused of being a traitor, and is placed in in a horrific jail cell. The King intervenes on his behalf and though he remains in custody, he is given rations and better living conditions.