Jeremiah 36:14-24

14 Then all the officials sent Jehudi, who was the son of Nethaniah, the grandson of Shelemiah, and the great-grandson of Cushi, to Baruch. Jehudi said to Baruch, "Bring the scroll that you read publicly, and come with me." Baruch, son of Neriah, took the scroll and went with him to see the officers.

15 They said to Baruch, "Please sit down, and read it to us." So Baruch read it to them.

16 When they heard everything, they turned to each other in terror. They said to Baruch, "We must tell the king everything."

17 Then they asked Baruch, "Please tell us how you wrote all this. Did Jeremiah dictate it to you?"

18 Baruch answered, "He dictated everything to me, and I wrote it on the scroll in ink."

19 The officials said to Baruch, "You and Jeremiah must hide. Don't let anyone know where you are."

20 After they put the scroll in the side room of the scribe Elishama, they went to the king in the courtyard and told him everything.

21 Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. He took the scroll from the side room of the scribe Elishama. Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials standing by the king.

22 It was the ninth month, and the king was in his winter house sitting in front of the fire in the fireplace.

23 As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a scribe's knife and throw them into the fire in the fireplace. He did this until the whole scroll was burned up.

24 The king and all his attendants didn't show any fear or tear their clothes in fear when they heard everything being read.

Jeremiah 36:14-24 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.