The expectation was that the word received from the Lord would then be preached to the people (Jeremiah 23:22, Jeremiah 23:28) and act like a hammer smashing a rock to pieces (Jeremiah 23:29). The message may be preserved in writing also (Jeremiah 36:2). The prophet digested God’s word so that it became a vital part of his life (Jeremiah 15:16).
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1 The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.