XXXVI. (1) THE FOURTH YEAR OF JEHOIAKIM... — The prophetic message that follows is brought by the date thus given into close contact with Jeremiah 25, and it is a reasonable inference that we have in that chapter the substance of part, at least, of what was written by Baruch from the prophet’s dict... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THEE A ROLL OF A BOOK. — The same phrase meets us in Psalms 40:7 (ascribed by some critics to Jeremiah), but does not occur in any earlier prophet or historical book. It is found in later prophets (Ezekiel 2:9; Ezekiel 3:1; Zechariah 5:1). It probably followed on the introduction of parchment a... [ Continue Reading ]
IT MAY BE THAT THE HOUSE OF JUDAH WILL HEAR... — Better, _hearken to,_ as implying more than the physical act of listening. Here again, in the expression of the hope that Israel would “return every man from his evil way,” we have a distinct echo from Jeremiah 25:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JEREMIAH CALLED BARUCH THE SON OF NERIAH. — See Note on Jeremiah 32:12. The prophet was, as the next verse shows, in some way hindered, though apparently not by imprisonment, as he and Baruch could hide themselves (Jeremiah 36:19): Baruch therefore had to act not only as the prophet’s amanuensi... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LORD’S HOUSE UPON THE FASTING DAY. — Literally, _a fast day._ We learn from Jeremiah 36:9 that this was one of the special fasts “proclaimed” in times of national distress (comp. Joel 2:1; 2 Chronicles 20:3; 1 Kings 21:10), and it was accordingly a time when the courts of the Temple would be... [ Continue Reading ]
IT CAME TO PASS IN THE FIFTH YEAR OF JEHOIAKIM. — The LXX. gives “the _eighth_ year,” but the Hebrew text gives much the more probable date. What follows refers apparently to the same occasion as Jeremiah 36:8, and is of the nature of a note explaining the circumstances under which the prophetic dis... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE CHAMBER OF GEMARIAH THE SON OF SHAPHAN. — The man thus named belonged to a family which, through three successive generations, presented conspicuous examples of devout patriotism. His father Shaphan was energetic in the work of re-building the Temple under Josiah (2 Kings 22:3), in conjunctio... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN MICHAIAH THE SON OF GEMARIAH... — Gemariah himself was, as we find in the next verse, not one of the listeners, but took his place with the other princes, in the “scribe’s chamber,” probably used as a council-room, in the king’s palace. It seems obvious from Michaiah’s relation to him that his... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, LO, ALL THE PRINCES SAT THERE. — The following particulars may be noted as to the princes thus named. Elishama may have been identical with the prince of that name in 2 Kings 25:25, and, if so, was the grandfather of a man who afterwards plays a conspicuous part in the history of the prophet’s... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE ALL THE PRINCES SENT JEHUDI THE SON OF NETHANIAH.... — There must obviously have been some reason for the exceptionally long genealogy thus given. It is probably indicated by the first and last names on the list. Cushi (= Ethiopian) — the name appears, probably with this sense, as that of... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE AFRAID BOTH ONE AND OTHER... — The words indicate a conflict of feelings. They were alarmed for themselves and their country as they heard, with at least a partial faith, the woes that were threatened as impending. They were alarmed also for the safety of the prophet and the scribe who had... [ Continue Reading ]
(17-19) TELL US NOW, HOW DIDST THOU WRITE...? — The question was clearly put as a judicial interrogatory. The princes were anxious to ascertain how far each of the parties concerned was responsible. Had Baruch exercised any discretion in writing so that the words were his, though the substance was J... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY LAID UP THE ROLL IN THE CHAMBER OF ELISHAMA... — The step was a material one, from the official standpoint. If either the prophet or the disciple were to be prosecuted for what had been spoken, it was important that the _corpus delicti_ should itself be ready for reference, whether on behalf of... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THE KING SENT JEHUDI... — The prudence ci the counsellors was foiled by the king’s impatience. He was not satisfied with hearing a general report. He would have the words themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE KING SAT IN THE WINTERHOUSE IN THE NINTH MONTH. — The “winterhouse” (the palaces of kings seem to have been commonly provided with such a special apartment; comp. Amos 3:15) was probably the southern wing of the palace. It was in November or December, and, as glass windows were unknown, a ch... [ Continue Reading ]
THREE OR FOUR LEAVES... — The English words suggest the idea of a papyrus book rather than a parchment roll (see Note on Jeremiah 36:4), but the Hebrew word (literally _=_ a door) may indicate the column of writing on such a roll, as well as a leaf. The act, in its childish impatience, betrayed the... [ Continue Reading ]
(24-25) YET THEY WERE NOT AFRAID, NOR RENT THEIR GARMENTS... — If we suppose that the “servants” are identical with the princes, these were the very men who, when they first heard the words, had been afraid, “both one and other.” Now the king’s presence restrains them, and they dare not show their a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE KING COMMANDED JERAHMEEL... — Instead of “the son of Hammelech,” we have to read, if we take the usual meaning of the words, “the king’s son,” as, indeed, the LXX. rightly renders it. The term would not imply more than that he belonged to the “royal house.” Jehoiakim was only twenty-five whe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JEREMIAH. — This was probably during the concealment of the two friends, and to the command thus given we probably owe the present form of Jeremiah 25 — perhaps, also, of the earlier Chapter s of the book. But, in addition to the reproduction of the judgment denounc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WERE ADDED BESIDES UNTO THEM MANY LIKE WORDS. — The passage is interesting as showing, as it were, the _genesis_ of the present volume of the prophet’s writings. The discourse delivered in the Temple court was, in modern phrase, revised and enlarged, dictated to Baruch as before, and in th... [ Continue Reading ]