Time period
Late 7th Century BC
Cultural background
The people of Judah were entrenched in idolatry and had forsaken the covenant with Yahweh, despite the reforms of King Josiah.
Political environment
Judah was a small kingdom caught between the powerful empires of Egypt and Babylon. The threat of Babylonian invasion loomed large.
Geographical setting
Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, and its surrounding regions. The city was the religious and political center of the kingdom.
Societal norms
The people of Judah were practicing syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with Canaanite and other foreign deities, which was against the Mosaic Law.
Significant figures
Jeremiah