Jeremiah 36

AND it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehojakim, the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah, from the LORD, saying Iehojakim was three years a Tributary to Nebuchadnezzar, as we read, 2 Kings 24.1. then he rebelled, which three years are judged to be the 6, 7, and 8 years of his Reign, for Pharaoh Necho set him up, to whom he was first a Tributary as we read 2 Kings 23.35. Pharaoh Necho having conquered him, Iehojakim became Servant to the Conqueror 3 years, then rebelled; upon which the Armies of the Chaldaeans with the Syrians, &c. came up against him; and carried him away. This word of the Lord came to Ieremiah the first year that he was Tributary to the King of Babylon, which was the fourth year of his Reign.,

Take thee a roll of a book By a roll of a book is to be understood parchments, which anciently were their books, the art of binding books being not then known. and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee, against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah even unto this day The precept is for recording all the Revelations he had from God for 22 years last past, for he began to prophesie in the thirteenth year of Iosiah, who reigned one and thirty years, so as he prophesied 18 years, during Iosiah's life, this was the fourth year of the Reign of Iehojachim. God would have them recorded, that there might be a memorial of them, that so the truth of them might appear, when God should bring them to pass, the time of which now drew very near..

It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil What we translate it may be others translate if perhaps which better expresseth the sense. God knew what would be, but yet he would not be wanting in means by which they might be informed in his will, and so believe the thing, for believing and reforming are here meant by hearing, as the next words in part expound this term here. which I purpose to do unto them, that they may return every man from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity, and their sin Forgiveness of sin in Scripture sometimes signifieth the acquitting of a sinner from the obligation sin layeth the sinner under to Eternal death, sometimes the remission of a temporal punishment, it may here well be understood as comprehending both, though I think the latter to be what is here principally intended..

Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah, all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book We shall find this Baruch being one of Ieremiah's Disciples, more than once thus imployed as Ieremiah's Secretary or Amanuensis. None shall need ask how Ieremiah could remember all the prophesies he had prophesied for 22 years before past that considereth who it was that commanded him to do this. God undoubtedly revived the Prophets memory, or he could not have called all to mind..

And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up, I cannot go into the house of the LORD.

Therefore go thou and read in the roll which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORDS house upon the fasting day We do not read that Ieremiah was a prisoner in the fourth year of Iehoiachim, and therefore it is very incertainly guested in what sense he here says he was shut up, some think Iehoiachim had imprisoned him, or at least restrained him to his house, tho we do not read of it. Others think he restrained himself, but in what sense he was shut up, is not certain, that he was so, is certain, he knew that God had not commanded his prophecies to be written for any other end, but that the people might have them recalled to their memories, he being not in a capacity himself at present to speak any thing to the people in so publick a place, sendeth Baruch to do it in his stead, choosing for it a day of publick Fast, not the day of the yearly fast mentioned, Levit. 23.2. But on a fast day (of which we shall read more, ver. 9.) proclaimed by Ieho achim, probably to avert the vengeance hanging over them from the Chaldaeans, or rather from the drought. It was undoubtedly because of the concourse of people which the Prophet knew would that day be in the Temple that he chose that day, when some would be present from all parts of Iudah.: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah, that come out of their Cities.

It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way, for great is the anger, and the fury, that the LORD has pronounced against this people We had an expression like this, ver. 3. it teacheth us that the only means to turn away God's fierce anger ready to fall upon people is Prayer and Reformation..

And Baruch the son of Neriah, did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD, in the LORDS house.

And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiachim, the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth moneth, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the Cities of Judah unto Jerusalem. This fast was appointed upon a particular emergency, whether it was for a Famine which was then in the Land, or to avert the ruine which they justly feared from the king of Babylon, who had lately brought them under his servitude is not certain; the yearly fast, Levit. 23.27. was to be kept in the seventh moneth, nor did God ever ordain any fast to be kept in the ninth moneth.

Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate, of the LORDS house in the ears of all the people This verse only attesteth Baruch's obedience to the command of the Prophet Ieremy not only as to the thing, his reading it in the Temple, but as to the circumstance in as publick a manner as he could in the chamber of Gemariah, &c. most likely out of some window, or in some Balcony, the people being below, and hearing it..

When Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD.

Then he went down into the kings house, into the scribes chamber, and lo all the princes sate there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes It is uncertain whether this Micajah went to make this Relation to the Princes who sate in the Secretaries Chamber, as a piece of news only, or out of a malitious design to accuse the Prophet, and Baruch for what was done as a seditious practice..

Then Micajah declared unto them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people That is, the substance of all the words, for none can imagine that an hearer could remember every word, which shows the vanity of those who overstrain such universal particles to signifie every particular word or person..

Therefore all the princes That is, all the Princes that at that time sate there in Councel, sent a messenger with a command to Baruch to appear before them, and to bring the roll which he had read in the Ears of the people. sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah the son of Cushi unto Baruch, saying, Take in thy hand the roll, wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah, took the roll in his hand, and came unto them o.

And they said unto him, Sit down now, and and read it in our ears, So Baruch read it in their ears The courage of Baruch is admirable, he was now before the Councel, in the Kings house, the substance of the Prophecies, were threatning both to the King, and Court, and to all the people. The King as appears by all history, was of no good temper, we read ch. 26. ver. 23. of his sending for Vrijah the Prophet out of Egypt, when he had led thither for fear of the King, and slaying him, and we shall find that at this time, the Princes advised both Ieremy and Baruch to hide themselves, yet Baruch is not afraid, but reads the Prophecy in their Ears..

Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other It is hardly to be imagined that all these Counsellors should sit still till they had heard all Ieremiah's prophecies for 22 years read, but all signifies many, or the sense and substance of all the prophecies., and said to Baruch, we will surely tell the king of all these words They were all of them afraid, Ieremiah had now been above twenty years a Prophet to this people, and doubtless in great esteem for 18 years of it, while Iosiah was alive, and one whose prophecies they could not but observe had been oft accomplished, therefore they could not but be afraid that they should see these words also fulfilled, and took themselves bound in duty to acquaint the King with them. Some if not all of these probab y had been great men in Iosiah's time, which was but four or five years before, and from him sucked in some good and religious principles which begat some aw of God in them..

And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth This now seemed but a reasonable question, considering they were the substance of what he had been prophecying for so many years. The thing seemed strange to the Princes, Prophets being not used to study and pen their discourses, but to speak them extempore.?

Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book This could not but add to the Princes fear and amazement. They must needs conceive that the thing was done from God, for without a special influence of God, it had been a thing impossible, that Ieremiah should have called to mind all that he had spoken at several times in so many years, and proceeding from the God of truth, they must needs fear, that they would have their certain and just accomplishment in their season..

Then said the Princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou, and Jeremiah, and let no man know where ye be This speaketh these Princes to have been men, of a much gentler temper, and better disposition, than those who succeeded them in Zedekiah's time, they were not willing that any harm should come to the Prophet, nor to Baruch, and knew the fierce temper of Iehojachim, and therefore advised Baruch, that both he, and the Prophet should hide themselves..

And they went in to the king, into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king They were obliged by their Office as Councellors to the King, to acquaint him with what they heard, which might be prejudicial to him, and his Nation, and indeed this was the very end, why God had commanded the enrolling of these Prophecies, that both the King, and Princes, and People might take notice of them, but they did not carry the book with them, but laid it up in the Secretaries Chamber..

So the king sent Jehudi to set the roll, And he took it out of Elishama the scribes chamber, And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king It appeareth by v. 14. that this Iehudi was a Messenger commonly imployed by the king, and Councel, him the King sends to fetch the Roll (before called a book) then he imployeth him to read it..

Now the king sate in the winter-house in the ninth moneth, and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him The ninth moneth with them, answered part of our November and December, which was a time of the year called for fires..

And it came to pass that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he That is the king, not having patience to hear above three or four collumns, or periods, or titles took the pen-knife, that (it is like) I hudi had, and cut it in pieces, and burned it in the fire that was before him, not considering that it was the Revelation of the will of God, but exalting himself above all that was called God. This showed both the wickedness, and passionate temper of this Prince, and his high contempt of God and his Prophets. cut it with the pen-knife, and cast it into the fire, that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.

Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king nor any of his servants that heard all these words So hardned were this peoples hearts that though they knew that Ieremiah was a Prophet of the Lord, upon the experience now of more than twenty years, and the whole scope of his prophecies had been to denounce the just Judgments of God, that now were coming upon this people, and they could not but understand, that God must be greatly assistant to Ieremiah in writing this Roll; all the matter of which he could not otherwise have kept in mind so many years, yet they had no serious fear of God upon their hearts working upon the hearing the dreadful matter of these prophecies, nor showed any sign of remorse, or sense of their sins, or God's Judgments coming upon them as indications of his wrath..

Nevertheless Elnathan, and Delaiah, and Gemariah, had made intercession to the king, that he would not burn the roll, but he would not hear them These three Princes seemed to have had a greater dread of God upon their hearts than the rest, for so far as they durst, they interposed, and besought the King not to burn the Roll, but he would not hearken to their advice..

But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe, and Jeremiah the prophet The King was not satisfied with burning the Roll, but gives order to apprehend both Ieremiah and Baruch, and commandeth the three persons named in this verse to do it:: But the LORD hid them But God by his providence kept them both out of their hands; how the Lord hid them we are not told, the Princes (as we read before) advised Baruch that they should both hide themselves. This Phrase (probably) imports no more, than that God directed them to find such a place of recess as the Kings messengers could by no means find out, nor understand where they were, till the King's passion was a little over..

Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah after that the king had burnt the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah saying,

Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll which Jehojakim the king of Judah has burnt.

And thou shalt say to Jehojakim, king of Judah, Thus says the LORD, Thou hast burnt this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come, and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast It speaketh nothing but the impotency, and passion, and debauchery of humane Nature to swell against any Revelations of the Divine Will, the Counsels of the Lord shall stand, and men only further entangle themselves by strugling in the Lords net. Iehojakim burns one Roll, God will have the same thing wrote in another.. We learn here both what was the matter of Ieremiah's prophecy, and the cause of the Kings anger he had prophecyed that the King of Babylon, should come, take Ierusalem, and lay the countrey waste, which as to Iehojachim's part, was fulfilled within six years after this, more fully in 18 years, but corrupt Princes can endure nothing that shall make their lives uneasie.

Therefore thus says the LORD of Jehojakim the king of Judah, He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David That is, none that shall be King any considerable time, Ieconiah, or Iehojachin his son was set up, but kept his Throne but three moneths. 2 Kings 24.8, 9, 10., and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost We no where read of the time, or manner of this Kings Death, but that he had an ignominious Burial, ch. 22.19. like the Burial of an Ass; none accompanying his Corps, none mourning for him, and it appears from this Text, that wherever he dyed, his Body lay for a time unburied..

And I will punish him, and his seed, and his servants, for their iniquity, and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them, but they hearkned not As to the people God threatneth, they should feel, what they were not willing to hear, even all the evil which God by his Prophet had pronounced against them..

Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch, the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book, which Jehojakim the king of Judah, had burnt in the fire, and there were added besides unto them many like words Wicked men get nothing by opposing themselves to the revealed will of God, how ungrateful soever it be to them, but the addition of guilt to their souls, and the increase of Divine Wrath, God's counsels shall stand, and what he speaks shall most certainly be accomplished. Here is another roll written with additional threatnings confirmative of what God had before said..