7th Century BC
The people of Judah were entrenched in idolatry and had broken the covenant with Yahweh, despite being His chosen people. The covenant was central to their identity, yet they frequently turned to the worship of other gods.
Judah was a small kingdom under threat from larger empires, such as Assyria and Babylon. During this time, King Josiah had initiated reforms to return Judah to the worship of Yahweh, but these reforms were not fully embraced by the people.
The events take place in the Kingdom of Judah, specifically in Jerusalem, which was the political and religious center of the nation.
The society was supposed to be governed by the laws given in the Mosaic Covenant, but many had turned to idolatry and neglected the commandments. The covenant was a binding agreement between God and Israel, requiring exclusive worship and obedience to Yahweh.
Jeremiah