ירמיהו, פרק מ״ו, פסוק א׳

The prophetic focus undergoes a distinct shift, turning away from the internal struggles of Judah and Jerusalem to look outward at the surrounding empires and kingdoms. A new collection of divine messages begins, serving as the final section of the book, directed entirely at foreign nations. This marks a clear thematic boundary, signaling that the ensuing messages from God are dedicated to the fate of these neighboring peoples [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

While the message is addressed to the nations, it does not encompass every country on earth [מנחת שי]. Instead, it targets a very specific group: the kingdoms ultimately conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon [מלבי״ם]. The selection of these specific nations is not random. A single, unifying thread connects them all: their direct role in the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of Judah [אברבנאל]. Egypt, for instance, pushed King Zedekiah to rebel against Babylon and initially marched to his aid, only to retreat and abandon Jerusalem to face the Babylonian siege alone. Other neighboring groups, such as the Philistines, Ammon, Moab, and Edom, took active roles in harming the Israelites and participating in the city's ruin.

The overarching purpose behind this collection of prophecies is a profound declaration of divine justice. Just as Judah faced punishment and exile, any nation that contributed to its downfall will suffer the exact same fate of destruction and displacement. God actively holds these nations accountable, seeking justice for the suffering inflicted upon His people by their destroyers [אברבנאל].

As a general introduction, this opening gathers various prophecies delivered across different periods. Some of the upcoming messages include specific dates, while others do not. The distinction is practical: prophecies delivered before the fall of Jerusalem required an exact date to prove they were spoken before the events actually happened. In contrast, those delivered after the destruction were recorded in their natural chronological order, making specific dates unnecessary [אברבנאל].