The person responsible for compiling the final version of the book of Jeremiah made it very clear at the end of Jeremiah 51:1–64 that Jeremiah’s words ended there (Jeremiah 51:64b). But that was not the end of the book. The compiler made the decision to end the book with the historical narrative in Jeremiah 52:1–34. This final chapter is almost identical to the account in 2 Kings 24:18–25:30, with a few changes. One of the biggest differences is that the account of Gedaliah’s appointment and subsequent assassination is left out (see 2 Kings 25:22–26), probably because there is already a more detailed account of Gedaliah’s fate earlier in Jeremiah’s writing (see Jeremiah 40:1–16 and Jeremiah 41:1–18). There is no biblical record of what happened to Jeremiah and Baruch in Egypt, but it is possible that Baruch was brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. If that is the case, then it is also very likely that Baruch finished off the book of Jeremiah in Egypt by adding Jeremiah 52:1–34. He would have had access to the material in 2 Kings, which was probably written in Babylon after the exile.1
It is not unusual for biblical historical narrative to be included in prophetic books. Isaiah 36:1–39:8 includes significant sections that are found in 2 Kings 18:13–20:19.2 One of the main purposes of including historical narrative in prophetic books is probably to show that the prophets' words were fulfilled. Jeremiah is not mentioned at all in the narrative in Jeremiah 52:1–34, but this only emphasizes the fact that the narrative is an independent source that demonstrates how Jeremiah’s message of judgment on Judah was fulfilled completely. However, it is not just judgment that is fulfilled. The book ends with the brief account of Jehoiachin’s release which offers a glimmer of hope to the exiled community in Babylon that the restoration Jeremiah spoke of would also come.3
The historical narrative begins with a brief account of Zedekiah’s rule. Zedekiah was appointed to rule by the Babylonians after the exile of his nephew Jehoiachin in 597 BC and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem.
His rule is simply summarized as, And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.
He continued the rebellious policies of his half-brother Jehoiakim. The standard required of Israel’s kings left little margin for error. Israel’s kings were called to be faithful to the Lord and most failed. Zedekiah had been more open to Jeremiah’s words than Jehoiakim had, but in the end, he had failed in trusting the Lord and his word.4 The sentence, For because of the anger of the Lord things came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence
describes the relationship between Judah’s rebellion and the Lord’s judgment. The Lord’s anger had already been roused against the nation but in his anger, he handed Judah over to her rebellion until things became so bad that the only option was to drive them from the land in judgment.5 Throughout this process he constantly called them and their king to repentance, but this only served to harden them in their rebellion. Rebellion reached its conclusion when Zedekiah broke the covenant he had made with Nebuchadnezzar. In doing so, he was ultimately rebelling against the Lord who had made it very clear that Nebuchadnezzar was his servant.
1 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.