Jeremiah 36:11-19

Jeremiah’s Scroll Read in the Palace

11 When Micaiah son of Gemariah, the 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, where all the officials were sitting: 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 And Micaiah reported to them all the words he had heard 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, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, saying, “Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come here.” So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll and went to them.

15 “Please sit down,” they said, “and read it in our hearing.” So Baruch read it in their hearing.

16 When they had heard all these words, they turned to one another in fear and said to Baruch, “Surely we must report all these words to the king.”

17 “Tell us now,” they asked Baruch, “how did you write all these words? Was it at Jeremiah’s dictation?”

18 “It was at his dictation,” Baruch replied. “He recited all these words to me and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.”

19 Then the officials said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah must hide yourselves and tell no one where you are.”

Jeremiah 36:11-19 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.