Late 7th Century BC
The people of Judah were entrenched in idolatry and social injustice, despite being the chosen people of Yahweh. The religious practices were often syncretistic, blending Yahweh worship with Canaanite and other pagan practices.
Judah was a small kingdom under threat from larger empires, particularly Babylon. The political landscape was unstable, with shifting alliances and threats from surrounding nations.
Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, is the primary setting. It was a fortified city and the religious center of the Jewish people, housing the Temple built by Solomon.
The society was marked by a disregard for justice and truth, with widespread corruption among leaders and priests. The covenantal laws given through Moses were being neglected.
Jeremiah