The Life of the Prophet Jeremiah

Jeremiah was born in Anathoth, about sixteen hundred and twenty years before the birth of our Saviour. Anathoth was one of the thirteen cities that were given to the priests in the time of Joshua. It was situated about three miles north of Jerusalem, within the limits of the tribe of Benjamin. Jeremiah was thus of the sacerdotal or priestly race.
Prophets were the special messengers of the Almighty, were commissioned, as he saw fit, from every rank and employment in life, and were not confined to the family of priests, Elisha was called while ploughing in the field, and Amos was "an herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamine fruit." Prophets were charged with making known the will of God to men. God delivered his messages to them in various ways; sometimes by an audible voice, sometimes in visions or trances, and sometimes in dreams of the night. They delivered their messages to men in various ways; sometimes by direct address, sometimes by parables, and sometimes by signs or symbols which the habits of the eastern nations rendered it easy for them to understand. Sometimes they wrote their prophecies on pieces of parchment, and caused them to be hung up in the temple where all men could read them. They went very plainly clothed, led a laborious, self-denying life; and were often exposed to suffering from poverty and persecution. Jeremiah, like Samuel, was called at an early age to this solemn and responsible office.