Baruch being dismayed, Jeremiah instructeth and comforteth him.
1THE word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written 1these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the 2fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
1 See Jer. 36:2, 4, etc.
2 It appears clearly that, in placing and gathering of these prophecies, the order of time is not everywhere exactly followed. Compare Jer. 35 on verse 1, and also in the next chapter, etc.
2Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch;
3Thou didst say, 3Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added 4grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.
3 By the following answer it may be gathered that Baruch, believing as a godly man all these prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and of the entire land, etc., was exceedingly grieved and troubled about it, but in the meanwhile, through human frailty, was too much dismayed and perplexed at the condition of the people of the Jews in general, and for his own person in particular, for which he is reproved of God, and nevertheless is comforted.
4 For, the godly were very few, wickedness prevailed, and the present miseries were exceeding terrible, but in the future much more.
4¶Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I 5break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
5 That is, I go about to break it down; I will do it forthwith; also in the sequel.
5And seekest thou 6great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring 7evil upon 8all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy 9life will I give unto thee for a preya in all places whither thou goest.
6 That is, desire a quiet, prosperous and flourishing state for the people of the Jews and for thy own self?
7 Of punishment.
8 That is, a general calamity upon all sorts and conditions of men. See Gen. 6 on verse 12.
9 That is, thy life, as Jer. 21:9. As if God said: Let My grace, with this benefit, be sufficient, that thou, as in a general deluge, art preserved.
a Jer. 21:9; 38:2; 39:18.