Editing Jeremiah (section)

== Historicity ==
The consensus is that there was a historical prophet named Jeremiah and that portions of the book probably were written by Jeremiah and/or his scribe Baruch.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Book-of-Jeremiah Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "The Book of Jeremiah". ''Encyclopedia Britannica'']</ref> Views range from the belief that the narratives and poetic sections in Jeremiah are contemporary with his life (W. L. Holladay), to the view that the work of the original prophet is beyond identification or recovery (R. P. Carroll).{{sfn|Anon.|1971|p=125}}{{sfn|Marsh|2018|p=}}

According to Rainer Albertz, first there were early collections of oracles, including material in ch. 2–6, 8–10, 13, 21–23, etc. Then there was an early [[Deuteronomist]]ic redaction which Albertz dates to around 550 BC, with the original ending to the book at 25:13. There was a second redaction around 545–540 BC which added much more material, up to about ch. 45. Then there was a third redaction around 525–520 BC, expanding the book up to the ending at 51:64. Then there were further post-exilic redactions adding ch. 52 and editing content throughout the book.<ref>{{harvnb|Albertz|2003|pp=302–344}}</ref>

Although Jeremiah was often thought of traditionally as the author of the [[Book of Lamentations]], this is probably a collection of individual and communal laments by others composed at various times throughout the [[Babylonian captivity]].{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

=== Archaeology ===
==== Nebo-Sarsekim tablet ====
In July 2007, Assyrologist Michael Jursa translated a [[cuneiform]] tablet dated to 595&nbsp;BC, as describing a Nabusharrussu-ukin as "the chief [[eunuch]]" of [[Nebuchadnezzar II]] of [[Babylon]]. Jursa hypothesized that this reference might be to the same individual as the [[Nebo-Sarsekim Tablet|Nebo-Sarsekim]] mentioned in {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|39:3}}.{{sfn|Reynolds|2007}}{{sfn|Hobbins|2007}}

==== Seals ====
A 7th-century BC [[Jehucal|seal of Jehucal, son of Shelemiah]] and another of [[Gedaliah, son of Pashhur]] (mentioned together in [[Jeremiah 38:1]]; Jehucal also mentioned in [[Jeremiah 37:3]]) were found during excavation by [[Eilat Mazar]] in the [[City of David (Silwan)|city of David]], [[Jerusalem]], in 2005 and 2008, respectively.{{sfn|Kantrowitz|2012}}

==== Tel Arad ostraca ====
Pottery shards at [[Tel Arad]] were unearthed in the 1970s that mention [[Pashhur]], and this reference may be to the same individual mentioned in [[Jeremiah 20:1]].<ref name="mfa.gov.il" />