Jeremiah 36:9-18

Baruch Reads the Scroll

9 In the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people of Jerusalem and all those coming in from Judah's cities into Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the Lord.
10 Then at the Lord's temple, in the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe,[a] in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gate[b] of the Lord's temple, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read Jeremiah's words from the scroll.
11 When Micaiah son of Gemariah, son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the Lord from the scroll,
12 he went down to the scribe's chamber in the king's palace. All the officials were sitting there-Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
13 Micaiah reported to them all the words he had heard when Baruch read from the scroll in the hearing of the people.
14 Then all the officials sent [word] to Baruch through Jehudi son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Cushi, saying, "Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come." So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll and went to them.
15 They said to him, "Sit down and read [it] in our hearing." So Baruch read [it] in their hearing.
16 When they had heard all the words, they turned to each other in fear and said to Baruch, "We must surely tell the king all these things."
17 Then they asked Baruch, "Tell us-how did you write all these words? At his dictation?"[c]
18 Baruch said to them, "At his dictation.[d] He recited all these words to me while I was writing on the scroll in ink."

Jeremiah 36:9-18 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.

Footnotes 4

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