Jeremiah 36:20-26

The Scroll Is Burned

20 So they went to the 1king in the court, but they had deposited the scroll in the chamber of 2Elishama the scribe, and they reported * all the words to the king.
21 Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi 3read it to the king as well as to all the officials who stood beside * the king.
22 Now the king was sitting in the 4winter house in the 5ninth month, with a fire burning in the brazier before him.
23 When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe's knife and 6threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.
24 Yet the king and all his servants who heard all these words were 7not afraid, nor did they 8rend their garments.
25 Even though Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah 9pleaded with the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.
26 And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to 10seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the 11LORD hid them.

Jeremiah 36:20-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 36

This chapter gives an account of an impious action of King Jehoiakim's burning the roll of Jeremiah's prophecies read unto him, and the consequence of it. The order to write this roll, the time when, the contents and use of it, are in Jer 36:1-3; the writing of it by Baruch, the order of the prophet to read it to the people on such a day, with the view he had in so doing, Jer 36:4-7; the reading of it by Baruch to the people first, Jer 36:8-10; then to the princes, being sent for by them, upon a report made to them, Jer 36:11-15; the king being acquainted with it, Jehudi was sent to fetch the roll, who read it to the king, Jer 36:16-21; who having heard part of it, burnt it, notwithstanding the intercession of some of his princes to the contrary, Jer 36:22-25; and who also ordered the apprehension of Jeremiah and Baruch, who could not be found, Jer 36:26; upon this a new roll is ordered to be written, Jer 36:27,28; which was done with some additions to it, respecting the destruction of the land, and the people in it, by the Chaldeans; and particularly the death of the king, and his want of burial, Jer 36:29-32.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Jeremiah 36:12
  • 2. Jeremiah 36:12
  • 3. 2 Kings 22:10; 2 Chronicles 34:18; Ezekiel 2:4, 5
  • 4. Judges 3:20; Amos 3:15
  • 5. Jeremiah 36:9
  • 6. 1 Kings 22:8, 27; Proverbs 1:30; Isaiah 5:18, 19; Isaiah 28:14, 22; Jeremiah 36:29
  • 7. Psalms 36:1; Psalms 64:5; Jeremiah 36:16
  • 8. Genesis 37:29, 34; 2 Samuel 1:11; 1 Kings 21:27; 2 Kings 19:1, 2; 2 Kings 22:11, 19; Isaiah 36:22; Isaiah 37:1; Jonah 3:6
  • 9. Gen 37:22, 26, 27; Acts 5:34-39
  • 10. 1 Kin 19:1-3, 10, 14; Matthew 23:34, 37
  • 11. Psalms 91:1
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