Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 18:1

"The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying," — Jeremiah 18:1 (ASV)

In the first prophecy of the series (Jeremiah 18:0), the fate of Jerusalem was still undetermined; a long line of kings might yet reign there in splendor, and the city be inhabited forever. This was possible only as long as it was still undecided whether Josiah’s efforts would end in a national reformation, and before Jehoiakim threw the weight of the kingly office into the opposite balance. In the present prophecy, mercy is still offered to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but they reject it (Jeremiah 18:11–12).

They have made their final choice; and then follows the third prophecy of “the broken vessel” (Jeremiah 19:1–15), in which the utter overthrow of the city and kingdom is foretold. We should therefore place this prophecy of the potter very early in the reign of Jehoiakim, and that of the broken vessel at the beginning of his fourth year. This internal evidence is confirmed by external proof.