Jeremiah 36
36
Writing the Scroll of Prophecies
1In the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, # 36:1 The fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign was 605 BC. Jeremiah had been prophesying for twenty-three years. Yahweh said to me, 2“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. 3Perhaps 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.” # 36:3 Once again, we see the merciful heart of God giving the people another opportunity to repent so that he could forgive and restore them. God’s heart is not to destroy nations but for the nations to come to repentance. See John 3:17; 2 Peter 3:9. 4So I summoned Baruch # 36:4 Baruch means “blessed [prospered] of God.” See footnote on 32:12. son of Neriah and dictated to him everything that Yahweh had said to me, and Baruch wrote it all down on a scroll.
Reading the Scroll of Prophecies in the Temple
5Then, I instructed Baruch: “I am forbidden to go back into the temple. 6So during the next day of fasting in the temple, # 36:6 In the Jewish culture, there were a number of days appointed for fasting, but fasts were also observed at times of approaching national disaster. There were doubtless large numbers of people gathered in the temple during the days of solemn fasts. 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. 7Perhaps 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.” 8So Baruch followed my instructions, went into the temple, and read Yahweh’s words from the scroll.
9In the ninth month of the fifth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, # 36:9 The ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim’s reign was December 604 BC. the people of Judah and Jerusalem were fasting. 10Then, 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. # 36:10 See 2 Kings 22:3–10. His room was in the upper courtyard near the entrance of the New Gate of the temple.
Baruch Reads the Scroll to the King’s Officials
11The moment Micaiah the son of Gemariah heard Yahweh’s message being read from the scroll, 12he 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. 13Micaiah recounted everything that he had heard Baruch read to the people from the scroll. 14Then 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.
15“Have a seat,” they said, “and please read the scroll to us.” They listened attentively as Baruch read its entirety to them. 16When they had heard its contents, the officials were seized with panic, # 36:16 Or “they shook each man toward his neighbor.” and they said to Baruch, “This is dreadful! We must report this to the king.” 17Then they asked him, “Tell us, how did you write all this? Did Jeremiah dictate it to you?”
18Baruch answered, “Yes he did. I wrote it down word for word in ink on this scroll.”
19Then they said to him, “For your own safety, you and Jeremiah must go into hiding. Don’t let anyone know where you are.”
The King Burns the Scroll
20For 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. 21Then 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. 22It was winter and the king was sitting in front of the fireplace in his winter palace. 23As 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. # 36:23 The same antichrist spirit that opposes God’s Word operates today (see 1 John 4:3), but the Word of God is indestructible and endures forever. See Ps. 119:89; 1 Peter 1:23. The “small knife” of higher criticism still cuts away portions of God’s Word today. 24But none of those who heard the contents of the scroll showed the slightest hint of remorse or sorrow, # 36:24 Or “nor did they rend their garments.” including the king. 25Although Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, he brushed them off and paid no attention to them. 26Then he commanded Prince Jerahmeel, # 36:26 It is likely that Jerahmeel was a member of the royal family rather than the actual son of Jehoiakim, who himself was only thirty years old at this time (see 2 Kings 23:36). together with Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to arrest me and my scribe Baruch, but Yahweh had hidden us. # 36:26 Some Jewish scholars believe that Jeremiah and Baruch were hiding near the quarries of Solomon in what is known as “Jeremiah’s Grotto,” not far from the Damascus Gate. See A. W. Streane, The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah: Together with the Lamentations (Cambridge: University Press, 1952).
Rewriting the Scroll
27After King Jehoiakim had burned the scroll that I had dictated to Baruch, Yahweh instructed me 28to get a new scroll and write everything on it that was in the first scroll. 29Yahweh told me to tell the king, “Yahweh says to you: You have burned the scroll, and you have demanded that Jeremiah tell you why he prophesied that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land and exterminate its people and its animals. 30So now, I, Yahweh, say to you, King Jehoiakim of Judah, people will cast your dead body out on the ground, where it will rot and be exposed to the sun by day and the frost by night. # 36:30 The one who cast the prophecies of Jeremiah into the fire was himself cast out. And none of your descendants will succeed you on the throne of David. 31I will punish all of you, your descendants, and your officials for all your blatant sins. You and the people of Judah and Jerusalem have not stopped to pay attention to any of my warnings. Therefore, I will pour out on all of you every disaster that I have pronounced against you.”
32Then I took another scroll and gave it to Baruch my scribe, and he wrote down everything that I dictated. He wrote everything that had been on the first scroll that Jehoiakim had destroyed. I also dictated to Baruch many similar prophecies, # 36:32 These “similar prophecies” may have included the book of Lamentations. which were added as well.
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Jeremiah 36: TPT
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