Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 26:1

"In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this word from Jehovah, saying," — Jeremiah 26:1 (ASV)

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim.— The section which follows is among the earlier fragments of the book, some three years before that of the preceding chapter. It will be noted that there is no mention of the Chaldeans, and that Jehoiakim is on friendly terms with Egypt (Jeremiah 26:22). This points to the very earliest period of his reign.

The chapter that follows, though referred to the same period in the present Hebrew text, really belongs to the reign of Zedekiah (see Note on Jeremiah 27:1). The common element that led the compiler of the book to bring the narratives together is the conflict of Jeremiah with the false prophets.