Jeremiah 52: Text, Context, Redaction

A detailed investigation of Jeremiah 52, both from a synchronic and from a diachronic perspective. This final chapter of the book of Jeremiah, which provides an account of the fall of Jerusalem (587 BC) and of the release of king Jehoiachin in Babylon (562 BC), is largely identical to the final section of the book of Kings (2 Kgs 24:18–25:30), which can be regarded as its source text. At the same time, there are a number of significant differences between both text, as well as between the Hebrew (Masoretic) text of Jer 52 and its Old Greek translation. This project addresses the textual, literary, and historical questions that arise from these facts: how is are the textual relationships between the texts/text forms to be understood? What place and function does Jer 52 have within the book of Jeremiah? When and for what purpose was this chapter added to the book? Which subsequent textual and editorial developments can be traced in it?
By investigating its final chapter, the project aims at furthering our understanding of the book of Jeremiah. A literary work’s conclusion often provides clues about how to read the larger work, but until now research on Jer 52 has remained fairly limited. Hence, the project can provide an important contribution to international Jeremiah studies.