Jeremiah 36:1-25

In the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, YAHWEH said to me, “Get a scroll and write on it every word that I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations from the first time I spoke to you when Josiah was king up to now. Perhaps when the people of Judah hear of the totality of destruction that I intend to bring on them, they will turn from their evil ways; then I will forgive their perversity and their sins.” So I summoned Baruch son of Neriah and dictated to him everything that YAHWEH had said to me, and Baruch wrote it all down on a scroll. Then, I instructed Baruch: “I am forbidden to go back into the temple. So during the next day of fasting in the temple, you must go and read aloud from the scroll so that the people will hear everything that YAHWEH has said to me and that I have dictated to you. Make sure all the people of Judah who have come in from their towns hear you clearly. Perhaps they will pray to YAHWEH and turn from their evil ways, for YAHWEH has promised to punish these people with his terrible anger and fury.” So Baruch followed my instructions, went into the temple, and read YAHWEH’s words from the scroll. In the ninth month of the fifth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, the people of Judah and Jerusalem were fasting. Then, while all the people were listening in the temple, Baruch publicly read from the scroll everything that I had said. He did this from the room of Gemariah son of Shaphan, the king’s royal scribe. His room was in the upper courtyard near the entrance of the New Gate of the temple. The moment Micaiah the son of Gemariah heard YAHWEH’s message being read from the scroll, he went straight to the king’s palace and to the chambers of the king’s royal scribe, where all the government officials were holding a meeting. Those attending were Elishama the secretary, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other government officials. Micaiah recounted everything that he had heard Baruch read to the people from the scroll. Then the officials sent Jehudi (the son of Nethaniah, grandson of Shelemiah and great-grandson of Cushi) to tell Baruch to bring them the scroll that he had read to the people. So Baruch went to them, carrying the scroll in his hand. “Have a seat,” they said, “and please read the scroll to us.” They listened attentively as Baruch read its entirety to them. When they had heard its contents, the officials were seized with panic, and they said to Baruch, “This is dreadful! We must report this to the king.” Then they asked him, “Tell us, how did you write all this? Did Jeremiah dictate it to you?” Baruch answered, “Yes he did. I wrote it down word for word in ink on this scroll.” Then they said to him, “For your own safety, you and Jeremiah must go into hiding. Don’t let anyone know where you are.” For safekeeping, the officials put the scroll in the office of Elishama, the court secretary, and went to the king’s court, where they reported everything to the king. Then the king sent Jehudi to retrieve the scroll. He brought it from the room of Elishama and read it to the king and all his gathered officials. It was winter and the king was sitting in front of the fireplace in his winter palace. As soon as Jehudi finished reading three or four columns from the scroll, the king would cut them off with a small knife and throw them into the fire until the entire scroll was burned up. But none of those who heard the contents of the scroll showed the slightest hint of remorse or sorrow, including the king. Although Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, he brushed them off and paid no attention to them.