Jeremiah became a prophet during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. He continued to prophesy during the reigns of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. The people in Judah and Jerusalem were guilty of idolatry and other sins against the Lord. Jeremiah warned them that Jerusalem would be destroyed and its inhabitants would either be killed or exiled if they did not repent. After Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian army, he continued to serve the people who remained the land of Judah; However, the people refused to obey the word of the Lord that he spoke. He continued to prophesy to the Israelites who remained in the land of Judah. They eventually forced him to go to Egypt with them against his will. We last see him rebuking the people for idolatrous acts of worship.