Digging Deeper – The Incredulity of Men

The words and events of Scripture are echoed in the annals of history, a fact that ought to encourage the believer and rouse the skeptic to curiosity. While reading Jeremiah, I was reminded of the meticulous history of Flavius Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian whose lengthy work, Antiquities of the Jews, recounts the story of his people for a Greek and Roman audience. Often, Josephus offers an extra-biblical perspective on biblical figures and events, including the ministry of Jeremiah and the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. To quote Josephus:

The prophet Jeremiah came often to the king, and protested to him, and insisted that he must leave off his impieties and transgressions, and take care of what was right; and neither give ear to the rulers, among whom were wicked men, nor give credit to their false prophets, who deluded them, as if the king of Babylon would make no more war against them. Now as to Zedekiah himself, while he heard the prophet speak, he believed him, and agreed to everything as true, and supposed it was for his advantage. But then his friends perverted him, and dissuaded him from what the prophet advised, and obliged him to do what they pleased.¹

These details, and there are many more excluded here for time’s sake, help to (1) provide additional, independent context and (2) confirm the historical accuracy of the biblical account. Of course, they are the fallible words of man and not the infallible Word of God, but the careful student of Scripture will find them helpful in understanding the setting of biblical events. In the context of Jeremiah 6, Josephus’ words help to evidence the “uncircumcised ears” (v. 10) of the people and the coming of the “army of the north” (v. 22).

After these events had unfolded, the prophecies gone unheeded, Jerusalem invaded, and the people exiled, Josephus adds this commentary to his text:

We have said thus much because it is sufficient to show the nature of God to such as are ignorant of it, that it is various and acts many different ways, and that all events happen after a regular manner, in their proper season, and that it foretells what must come to pass. It is also sufficient to show the ignorance and incredulity of men.²

History not only serves as evidence of God’s sovereignty, but also reveals the unfolding of his plan of redemption. Be encouraged by the fact that archaeological, textual, and historical evidence consistently supports the reliability of the biblical record.

¹ Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 10.7.2
² Ibid., 10.8.3