1Jeremiah causeth Baruch to write all his threatening prophecies in a roll of a book, and to read them publicly. 11The princes send for Baruch to bring the roll, who readeth it before them: they are afraid, and counsel Baruch and Jeremiah to hide themselves: 20they tell the king of the roll, who having heard part of it casteth it into the fire. 27Jeremiah is commanded to write the same in another roll, and denounceth a heavy judgment against the king. 32Baruch writeth a new copy with additions.
1AND it came to pass in the 1fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
1 See Jer. 25:1.
2Take thee a rolla of a 2book, and writeb therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of 3Josiah, even unto this day.
a Isa. 8:1.
2 The word sepher, which is taken for a book, signifies also in general all manner of writings, letters, legal documents, maps, etc. See Deut. 24:1; 2 Kings 5:5, 6; Jer. 32:11, 12, etc. And here a roll of a book may be as much to say as a large written roll, instead of a book, serving to be written upon and rolled together. See further Ezra 6 on verse 2. From this is the phrase: The heavens shall be rolled together as a book, Isa. 34:4; Rev. 6:14. Compare Isa. 8:1.
b Jer. 30:2.
3 See Jer. 1:2.
34It may be that 5the house of Judah will hear all the 6evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
4 It is spoken of the all-knowing God after the manner of men to show how acceptable to Him is true repentance. Compare Deut. 5 on verse 29. Thus also in the word purpose, and elsewhere often.
5 Hebr. shall the house of Judah hear.
6 Of punishment. This serves to prove the corrupted obstinacy of the people, who were now so far declined, that there remained no means, but threats of evil.
4Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am 7shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:
7 Or, detained; which some understand of some imprisonment or confinement, from Jer. 33:1, where the same Hebrew word is used. But others, judging that this does not well agree with verse 19, take it for some other impediment, as by a special command of God, or some outward legal uncleanness, or a religious vow. See Num. 19:11, etc.; 1 Sam. 21 on verse 7; Neh. 6 on verse 10.
6Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD's house upon the 8fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that 9come out of their cities.
8 Which they, above the rule, had established by their own approval, observing doubtless by sundry signs that God was provoked to anger. See verse 9.
9 To Jerusalem, upon the fasting day, as verse 9.
7It may be they will 10present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the 11anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.
10 That is, it may be they will fall down in humble supplication and prayer, or present their supplication before Him, as Jer. 37:20, and compare also Jer. 38:26; 42:2, 9. It may be likewise taken thus, that prayer is said to ascend, in respect of faith, so may it also justly be said to fall down before the Lord, in respect of humility and confession of our unworthiness.
11 The judgments, plagues and miseries, which He has threatened them, if they repent not.
8And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD's house.
9And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the 12ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast 13before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that 14came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.
12 In that current year, called (in the ecclesiastical year) the month Chisleu or Chasleu, agreeing with our November and December.
13 To make confession of sins before Him in His house, and to entreat Him for mercy, for which end the fast was a useful expedience, but how God esteemed the fast of the wicked and of hypocrites, see thereof in Isa. 58:3, 4, 5, etc.
14 Or, were come.
10Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the 15chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the 16scribe, in the 17higher court, at the entry of the 18new gate of the LORD's house, in the ears of all the people.
15 Other, at or by the chamber. See of the building of these chambers 1 Kings 6:5, 6 with the annotations.
16 That is, he who registered the public acts of God’s house and the prophecies that were there read and pronounced, as some conceive; or, the scribe, of which see Ezra 7 on verse 6. The Hebrew word is otherwise taken in verse 12, where it signifies a political secretary of the king.
17 According to the opinion of some, it is otherwise called the court of the priests, distinct from the great court of the congregation that was by it. See 2 Chron. 4 on verse 9. Yet some understand this of the inner and upper part of the court of the people. It may be that he was in the window of one of the chambers that was in the court, and read before the people who were in the court.
18 See Jer. 26 on verse 10.
11¶When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,
12Then he went down into the king's house, into the 19scribe’s chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and 20Elnathan the son of Achbor, and 21Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.
19 That is, the secretary of the king, and in the scribe’s chamber, that is, into the secretary’s office, chancery or council chamber. See 1 Kings 4 on verse 3. This scribe is presently called Elishama.
20 See Jer. 26:22.
21 Whether this is the same man mentioned in verse 10 and in respect of his authority and experience (as an ecclesiastical historian or scribe, as Ezra was) employed in this council or consultation, on the fasting day, or whether it was another, one of the princes, whereof some conceive that the most important ones are here named, the judicious reader may consider.
13Then Michaiah 22declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.
22 Whether he did this out of a good intention, to give the princes to consider how they would turn away God’s anger, as some will gather from this, that the princes, having heard his report, carried themselves very civilly towards Baruch, and were moved thereat, and took care for the safety of Jeremiah and Baruch, as follows; or, whether he sought to bring Jeremiah into suffering for it, is uncertain. Compare Jer. 20:10.
14Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.
15And they said unto him, Sit down now, and 23read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.
23 Read the roll, that is, that which thou hast written therein.
16Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid 24both one and other, and said unto Baruch, 25We will surely tell the king of all these words.
24 Hebr. the man or everyone against his neighbor or companion, that is, they looked upon one another with fear and amazement, the one looked upon the other.
25 Or, We must altogether, etc. Hebr. We will making known make known.
17And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
18Then Baruch answered them, He 26pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with 27ink in the 28book.
26 Or, He called, he spake aloud out of his mouth unto me, that is (as we use to speak), he dictated unto me word by word.
27 The Hebrew word is only found in this place.
28 That is, in this writ or roll.
19Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.
20¶And they went in to the king into the 29court, but they 30laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.
29 Of the king’s palace.
30 Namely, under somebody’s custody, as this phrase is found in 2 Chron. 12:10. Or, kept, they gave to keep, as Lev. 6:4; Jer. 37:21.
21So the king sent 31Jehudi to 32fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood 33beside the king.
31 Of whom in verse 14.
32 Hebr. to take, that is, to take and bring, for which we use to say to fetch. See Gen. 12 on verse 15.
33 Or, before, over against, round about.
22Now the king sat in the 34winterhouse in the 35ninth month: 36and there was a fire 37on the hearth burning before him.
34 As kings and other great men had different residences, even winter and summer houses. See Judges 3:20; Ezra 6:2; Amos 3:15 with the annotations.
35 As verse 9.
36 Hebr. properly: and the hearth was kindled or burning before his face, that is, a fire on the hearth.
37 Some understand a pan of fire, full of burning coals, on which they burnt wood. The Hebrew word is only found in this place.
23And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read 38three or four leaves, he 39cut it with the 40penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
38 Hebr. doors, that is, columns; for which we now use the words pages or leaves, and chapters of a book.
39 The king cut the roll in pieces.
40 Hebr. properly: a writer’s razor, that is, a penknife, as we call it.
24Yet they were not afraid, nor 41rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his 42servants that heard all these words.
41 As they were wont to do in sorrow and mourning (see Gen. 37:29; 2 Kings 18:37; 19:1; 22:11), but they complied with the king, having forgotten their previous remorse, verse 16.
42 That is, none of his officers and courtiers, who were about him.
25Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: 43but he would not hear them.
43 Or, however he would not hearken unto them.
26But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son 44of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, 45to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.
44 Or, of the king, that is, his own son; also Jer. 38:6.
45 Or, to catch. So is the Hebrew word, which otherwise signifies to take and consequently to fetch, also used Prov. 24:11; Jer. 39:5.
27¶Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
2846Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.
46 Hebr. Return, obtain, that is, take again, as often.
29And thou shalt 47say 48to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, 49saying, The king of Babylon shall 50certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease 51from thence man and beast?
47 Understand: hereafter, in time to come; for as much as he was at this time, by the advice of the princes and the care of God for him, hidden. See verses 19 and 26. But God could easily (if it pleased Him) thus restrain the king’s pride and cruelty that he had to permit Jeremiah to come into his presence, and to hear him speak unto him.
48 Other, of, that is, thou shalt in thy prophecies write of him by My command.
49 That is, thus.
50 Hebr. coming come.
51 Hebr. from thence or, thereof, that is, that there shall be no more.
30Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have 52none to sit upon the throne of David: and his 53deadc body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.
52 Understand no son to succeed him in the royal government; namely, in order that it might rightly bear the name of succession and government; for his son Jeconiah or Jehoiachin reigned but three months (which cannot be counted a sitting) and was then carried away to Babel, 2 Kings 24:8, 12, and Zedekiah , who succeeded in his stead, was not Jehioakim’s son, but his brother, being called previously Mattaniah, 2 Kings 24:17.
53 Compare Jer. 22:19 with the annotations.
c Jer. 22:19.
31And I will 54punish him and his seed and his 55servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have 56pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.
54 That is, visit with punishments. See Gen. 21 on verse 1.
55 As verse 24.
56 And which was contained in the previous roll.
32¶Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.