And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Fourth year - the command to write the roll was given in the 4th year; but it was not read publicly until the 5th year. As Isaiah subjoined to his predictions a history of events confirming his prophecies (Isaiah 36:1-22; Isaiah 37:1-38; Isaiah 38:1-22; Isaiah 39:1-8), so Jeremiah also in Jeremiah 37:1-21; Jeremiah 38:1-28; Jeremiah 39:1-18; Jeremiah 40:1-16; Jeremiah 41:1-18; Jeremiah 42:1-22; Jeremiah 43:1-13; but he prefaces his history with the narrative of an incident that occurred some time ago, showing that he not only by word, but in writing, and that twice, had beforehand testified all that he is about to state as having subsequently come to pass (Grotius). At the end of Jehoiakim's 3rd year Nebuchadnezzar enrolled an army against Jerusalem, and took it in the end of the 5th or beginning of the 6th year, and carried away captive Jehoiakim, Daniel, etc. Jehoiakim returned the same year and for 3 years was tributary; then withheld tribute. Nebuchadnezzar returned, and took Jerusalem, and carried off Jehoiakim, who was killed on the road. This account harmonizes this chapter with 2 Kings 24:1-20 and Daniel 1:1-21. See note, Jeremiah 22:19.