Those times of change, so fraught with peril to the Israelitish nation, were marked with many messages from Heaven through Jeremiah. Thus the Lord gave the children of Judah ample opportunity of freeing themselves from entangling alliances with Egypt, and of avoiding controversy with the rulers of Babylon. As the threatened danger came closer, he taught the people by means of a series of acted parables, hoping thus to arouse them to a sense of their obligation to God, and also to encourage them to maintain friendly relations with the Babylonian government.

I disse urolige tider, der rummede så mange farer for den israelitiske nation, sendte Himmelen adskillige budskaber ved Jeremias. Herren gav derved Judas børn rig anledning til at trække sig ud af deres farlige alliance med Ægypten og undgå at komme i strid med Babylons konger. Da den truende fare kom nærmere, udførte han en række billedhandlinger for at undervise folket. Det var hans håb, at dette ville få dem til at indse deres pligt over for Gud og tilskynde dem til at bevare venskabet med de babyloniske magthavere.