1Und es geschah im vierten Jahre Jojakims, des Sohnes Josias, des Königs von Juda, da geschah dieses Wort von seiten Jehovas zu Jeremia also: 2Nimm dir eine Buchrolle und schreibe darauf alle die Worte, welche ich zu dir geredet habe über Israel und über Juda und über alle Nationen, von dem Tage an, da ich zu dir geredet habe, von den Tagen Josias an bis auf diesen Tag. 3Vielleicht wird das Haus Juda auf all das Böse hören, welches ich ihnen zu tun gedenke, damit sie umkehren, ein jeder von seinem bösen Wege, und ich ihre Missetat und ihre Sünde vergebe. - 4Und Jeremia rief Baruk, den Sohn Nerijas; und Baruk schrieb aus dem Munde Jeremias auf eine Buchrolle alle die Worte Jehovas, welche er zu ihm geredet hatte. 5Und Jeremia gebot Baruk und sprach: Ich bin verhindert, ich kann nicht in das Haus Jehovas gehen; 6so gehe du hin und lies aus der Rolle, was du aus meinem Munde aufgeschrieben hast, die Worte Jehovas, vor den Ohren des Volkes im Hause Jehovas am Tage des Fastens; und du sollst sie auch vor den Ohren aller Juden lesen, die aus ihren Städten kommen. 7Vielleicht wird ihr Flehen vor Jehova kommen , so daß sie umkehren, ein jeder von seinem bösen Wege; denn groß ist der Zorn und der Grimm, den Jehova über dieses Volk ausgesprochen hat. 8Und Baruk, der Sohn Nerijas, tat nach allem, was der Prophet Jeremia ihm geboten hatte, indem er aus dem Buche die Worte Jehovas im Hause Jehovas vorlas. 9Und es geschah im fünften Jahre Jojakims, des Sohnes Josias, des Königs von Juda, im neunten Monat, da rief man ein Fasten aus vor Jehova allem Volke in Jerusalem und allem Volke, das aus den Städten Judas nach Jerusalem kam. 10Und Baruk las aus dem Buche die Worte Jeremias im Hause Jehovas, in der Zelle Gemarjas, des Sohnes Schaphans, des Schreibers, im oberen Vorhof, im Eingang des neuen Tores des Hauses Jehovas, vor den Ohren des ganzen Volkes. 11Und Mikaja, der Sohn Gemarjas, des Sohnes Schaphans, hörte alle Worte Jehovas aus dem Buche, 12und er ging zum Hause des Königs hinab in das Gemach des Schreibers; und siehe, daselbst saßen alle Fürsten : Elischama, der Schreiber, und Delaja, der Sohn Schemajas, und Elnathan, der Sohn Akbors, und Gemarja, der Sohn Schaphans, und Zedekia, der Sohn Hananjas, und alle Fürsten. 13Und Mikaja berichtete ihnen alle die Worte, die er gehört hatte, als Baruk vor den Ohren des Volkes aus dem Buche las. 14Da sandten alle Fürsten Jehudi, den Sohn Nethanjas, des Sohnes Schelemjas, des Sohnes Kuschis, zu Baruk und ließen ihm sagen: Die Rolle, aus welcher du vor den Ohren des Volkes gelesen hast, nimm sie in deine Hand und komm! Und Baruk, der Sohn Nerijas, nahm die Rolle in seine Hand und kam zu ihnen. 15Und sie sprachen zu ihm: Setze dich doch und lies sie vor unseren Ohren. Und Baruk las vor ihren Ohren. 16Und es geschah, als sie alle die Worte hörten, sahen sie einander erschrocken an und sprachen zu Baruk: Wir müssen dem König alle diese Worte berichten. 17Und sie fragten Baruk und sprachen: Teile uns doch mit, wie du alle diese Worte aus seinem Munde aufgeschrieben hast. 18Und Baruk sprach zu ihnen: Aus seinem Munde sagte er mir alle diese Worte vor, und ich schrieb sie mit Tinte in das Buch. 19Und die Fürsten sprachen zu Baruk: Geh, verbirg dich, du und Jeremia, daß niemand wisse, wo ihr seid. - 20Und sie gingen zu dem König in den Hof ; die Rolle aber hatten sie in dem Gemach Elischamas, des Schreibers, niedergelegt; und sie berichteten alle die Worte vor den Ohren des Königs. 21Da sandte der König den Jehudi, um die Rolle zu holen; und er holte sie aus dem Gemach Elischamas, des Schreibers; und Jehudi las sie vor den Ohren des Königs und vor den Ohren aller Fürsten, die um den König standen. 22Der König aber saß im Winterhause, im neunten Monat, und der Kohlentopf war vor ihm angezündet. 23Und es geschah, sooft Jehudi drei oder vier Spalten vorgelesen hatte, zerschnitt sie der König mit dem Schreibermesser und warf sie in das Feuer, das im Kohlentopf war, bis die ganze Rolle in dem Feuer des Kohlentopfes vernichtet war. 24Und der König und alle seine Knechte, welche alle diese Worte hörten, erschraken nicht und zerrissen nicht ihre Kleider. 25Und obwohl Elnathan und Delaja und Gemarja den König angingen, daß er die Rolle nicht verbrennen möchte, hörte er doch nicht auf sie. 26Und der König gebot Jerachmeel, dem Königssohne , und Seraja, dem Sohne Asriels, und Schelemja, dem Sohne Abdeels, Baruk, den Schreiber, und Jeremia, den Propheten, zu greifen; aber Jehova hatte sie verborgen. 27Und das Wort Jehovas geschah zu Jeremia, nachdem der König die Rolle und die Worte, welche Baruk aus dem Munde Jeremias aufgeschrieben, verbrannt hatte, also: 28Nimm dir wieder eine andere Rolle und schreibe darauf alle die vorigen Worte, die auf der vorigen Rolle waren, welche Jojakim, der König von Juda, verbrannt hat. 29Und über Jojakim, den König von Juda, sollst du sprechen: So spricht Jehova: Du hast diese Rolle verbrannt, indem du sprachst: "Warum hast du darauf geschrieben: Der König von Babel wird gewißlich kommen und dieses Land verderben und Menschen und Vieh daraus vertilgen?" 30Darum spricht Jehova also über Jojakim, den König von Juda: Er wird niemand haben, der auf dem Throne Davids sitze; und sein Leichnam wird hingeworfen sein der Hitze bei Tage und der Kälte bei Nacht . 31Und ich will an ihm und an seinem Samen und an seinen Knechten ihre Missetat heimsuchen, und will über sie und über die Bewohner von Jerusalem und über die Männer von Juda all das Unglück bringen, welches ich über sie geredet habe; aber sie haben nicht gehört. - 32Und Jeremia nahm eine andere Rolle und gab sie Baruk, dem Sohne Nerijas, dem Schreiber. Und er schrieb darauf aus dem Munde Jeremias alle Worte des Buches, welche Jojakim, der König von Juda, im Feuer verbrannt hatte. Und es wurden noch viele Worte gleichen Inhalts hinzugefügt.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 In the beginning of Ezekiel's prophecy we meet with
a roll written
in vision, for discovery of the things therein contained to the prophet himself, who was to receive and digest them,
Ezek 2:9,
Ezek 2:10;
Ezek 3:1. Here, in the latter end of Jeremiah's prophecy, we meet with
a roll written
in fact, for discovery of the things contained therein to the people, who were to hear and give heed to them; for the written word and other good books are of great use both to ministers and people. We have here,
I. The command which God gave to Jeremiah to write a summary of his sermons, of all the reproofs and all the warnings he had given in God's name to his people, ever since he first began to be a preacher, in the thirteenth year of Josiah,
to this day, which was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim,
Jer 36:2,
Jer 36:3. What had been only spoken must now be written, that it might be reviewed, and that it might spread the further and last the longer. What had been spoken at large, with frequent repetitions of the same things, perhaps in the same words (which has its advantage one way), must now be contracted and put into less compass, that the several parts of it might be better compared together, which has its advantage another way. What they had heard once must be recapitulated, and rehearsed to them again, that what was forgotten might be called to mind again and what made no impression upon them at the first hearing might take hold of them when they heard it the second time. And what was perhaps already written, and published in single sermons, must be collected into one volume, that none might be lost. Note, The writing of the scripture is by divine appointment. And observe the reason here given for the writing of this roll (
Jer 36:3):
It may be the house of Judah will hear. Not that the divine prescience was at any uncertainty concerning the event: with that there is no peradventure; God knew certainly
that they would deal very treacherously, Isa 48:8. But the divine wisdom directed to this as a proper means for attaining the desired end: and, if it failed, they would be the more inexcusable. And, though God foresaw that they would not hear, he did not tell the prophet so, but prescribed this method to him as a probably one to be used, in the hopes that they would
hear, that is, heed and regard what they heard, take notice of it and mix faith with it: for otherwise our hearing the word, though an angel from heaven were to read or preach it to us, would stand us in no stead. Now observe here, 1. What it is hoped they will thus hear:
All that evil which I purpose to do unto them. Note, The serious consideration of the certain fatal consequences of sin will be of great use to us to bring us to God. 2. What it is hoped will be produced thereby:
They will hear, that they may return every man from his evil way. Note, The conversion of sinners from their evil courses is that which ministers should aim at in preaching; and people hear the word in vain if that point be not gained with them. To what purpose do we hear of the evil God will bring upon us for sin if we continue, notwithstanding, to do evil against him? 3. Of what vast advantage their consideration and conversion will be to them:
That I may forgive their iniquity. This plainly implies the honour of God's justice, with which it is not consistent that he should forgive the sin unless the sinner repent of it and turn from it; but it plainly expresses the honour of his mercy, that he is very ready to forgive sin and only waits till the sinner be qualified to receive forgiveness, and therefore uses various means to bring us to repentance,
that he may forgive. II. The instructions which Jeremiah gave to Baruch his scribe, pursuant to the command he had received from God, and the writing of the roll accordingly,
Jer 36:4. God bade Jeremiah write, but, it should seem, he had not the
pen of a ready writer, he could not write fast, or fair, so as Baruch could, and therefore he made use of him as his amanuensis. St. Paul wrote but few of his epistles with his own hand,
Galat 6:11;
Roma 16:22. God dispenses his gifts variously; some have a good faculty at speaking, others at writing, and neither can say to the other, We have
no need of you, 1Cor 12:21. The Spirit of God dictated to Jeremiah, and he to Baruch, who had been employed by Jeremiah as trustee for him in his purchase of the field (
Jer 32:12) and now was advanced to be his scribe and substitute in his prophetical office; and, if we may credit the apocryphal book that bears his name, he was afterwards himself a prophet to the captives in Babylon. Those that begin low are likely to rise high, and it is good for those that are designed for prophets to have their education under prophets and to be serviceable to them. Baruch wrote what Jeremiah dictated in a
roll of a book on pieces of parchment, or vellum, which were joined together, the top of one to the bottom of the other, so making one long scroll, which was rolled perhaps upon a staff.
III. The orders which Jeremiah gave to Baruch to read what he had written to the people. Jeremiah, it seems was
shut up, and
could not go to the house of the Lord himself,
Jer 36:5. Though he was not a close prisoner, for then there would have been no occasion to send officers to seize him (
Jer 36:26), yet he was forbidden by the king to appear in the temple, was shut out thence where he might be serving God and doing good, which was as bad to him as if he had been shut up in a dungeon. Jehoiakim was ripening apace for ruin when he thus silenced God's faithful messengers. But, when Jeremiah could not go to the temple himself, he sent one that was deputed by him to read to the people what he would himself have said. Thus St. Paul wrote epistles to the churches which he could not visit in person. Nay, it was what he himself had often said to them. Note, The writing and repeating of the sermons that have been preached may contribute very much towards the answering of the great ends of preaching. what we have heard and known it is good for us to hear again, that we may know it better. To preach and write the same thing is safe and profitable, and many times very necessary (
Phili 3:1), and we must be glad to hear a good word from God, though we have it, as here, at second hand. Both ministers and people must do what they can when they cannot do what they would. Observe, When God ordered the reading of the roll he said,
It may be they will hear and return from their evil ways, Jer 36:3. When Jeremiah orders it, he says,
It may be they will pray (they will
present their supplications before the Lord ) and will
return from their evil way. Note, Prayer to God for grace to turn us is necessary in order to our turning; and those that are convinced by the word of God of the necessity of returning to him will present their supplications to him for that grace. And the consideration of this, that
great is the anger which God has pronounced against us for sin, should quicken both our prayers and our endeavours. Now, according to these orders, Baruch did read
out of the book the words of the Lord, whenever there was a
holy convocation, Jer 36:8.
9 It should seem that Baruch had been frequently reading out of the book, to all companies that would give him the hearing, before the most solemn reading of it altogether which is here spoken of; for the directions were given about it in the
fourth year of Jehoiakim, whereas this was done
in the fifth year, Jer 36:9. But some think that the writing of the book fairly over took up so much time that it was another year ere it was perfected; and yet perhaps it might not be past a month or two; he might begin in the latter end of the fourth year and finish it in the beginning of the fifth, for
thee ninth month refers to the computation of the year in general, not to the year of that reign. Now observe here, 1. The government appointed a public fast to be religiously observed (
Jer 36:9), on account either of the distress they were brought into by the army of the Chaldeans or of the want of rain (
Jer 14:1):
They proclaimed a fast to the people; whether the king and princes or the priests, ordered this fast, is not certain; but it was plain that God by his providence called them aloud to it. Note, Great shows of piety and devotion may be found even among those who, though they keep up these
forms of godliness, are strangers and enemies to
the power of it. But what will such hypocritical services avail? Fasting, without reforming and turning away from sin, will never turn away the judgments of God,
Jonah 3:10. Notwithstanding this fast, God proceeded in his controversy with this people. 2. Baruch repeated Jeremiah's sermons publicly in the house of the Lord, on the fast-day. He stood in a chamber that belonged to Gemariah, and out of a window, or balcony, read to the people that were in the court,
Jer 36:10. Note, When we are speaking to God we must be willing to hear from him; and therefore, on days of fasting and prayer, it is requisite that the word be read and preached.
Hearken unto me, that God may hearken unto you. Judg 9:7. For our help in suing out mercy and grace, it is proper that we should be told of sin and duty. 3. An account was brought of this to the princes that attended the court and were now together in the secretary's office, here called
the scribe's chamber, Jer 36:12. It should seem, though the princes had called the people to meet in the house of God, to fact, and pray, and hear the word, they did not think fit to attend there themselves, which was a sign that it was not from a principle of true devotion, but merely for fashion sake, that they proclaimed this fast. We are willing to hope that it was not with a bad design, to bring Jeremiah into trouble for his preaching, but with a good design, to bring the princes into trouble for their sins, that Michaiah informed the princes of what Baruch had read; for his father Gemariah so far countenanced Baruch as to lend him his chamber to read out of. Michaiah finds the princes sitting in
the scribe's chamber, and tells them they had better have been where he had been, hearing a good sermon in the temple, which he gives them the heads of. Note, When we have heard some good word that has affected and edified us we should be ready to communicate it to others that did not hear it, for their edification.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 4. Baruch is sent for, and is ordered to sit down among them and read it all over again to them (
Jer 36:14,
Jer 36:15), which he readily did, not complaining that he was weary with his public work and therefore desiring to be excused, nor upbraiding the princes with their being absent from the temple, where they might have heard it when he read it there. Note, God's ministers must
become all things to all men, if by any means they may gain some, must comply with them in circumstances, that they may secure the substance. St. Paul preached privately to those of reputation,
Galat 2:2. 5. The princes were for the present much affected with the word that was read to them,
Jer 36:16. Observe,
They heard all the words they did not interrupt him, but very patiently attended to the reading of the whole book; for otherwise how could they form a competent judgment of it? And,
when they had heard all, they were afraid, were all afraid,
one as well as
another; like Felix, who trembled at Paul's reasonings. The reproofs were just, the threatenings terrible, and the predictions now in a fair way to be fulfilled; so that, laying all together, they were in a great consternation. We are not told what impressions this reading of the roll made upon the people (
Jer 36:10), but the princes were put into a fright by it, and (as some read it)
looked one upon another, not knowing what to say. They were all convinced that it was worthy to be regarded, but none of them had courage to second it, only they agreed to
tell the king of all these words; and, if he think fit to give credit to them, they will, otherwise not, no, though it were to prevent the ruin of the nation. And yet at the same time they knew the king's mind so far that they advised Baruch and Jeremiah to hide themselves (
Jer 36:19) and to shift as they could for their own safety, expecting no other than that the king, instead of being convinced, would be exasperated. Note, It is common for sinners, under convictions, to endeavour to shake them off, by shifting off the prosecution of them to other persons, as these princes here, or to another
more convenient season, as Felix. 6. They asked Baruch a trifling question,
How he wrote all these words (v. 17), as if they suspected there was something extraordinary in it; but Baruch gives them a plain answer, that there was nothing but what was common in the manner of the writing - Jeremiah dictated and he wrote,
Jer 36:18. But thus it is common for those who would avoid the convictions of the word of God to start needless questions about the way and manner of the inspiration of it.
20 We have traced the roll to the people, and to the princes, and here we are to follow it to the king; and we find,
I. That, upon notice given him concerning it, he sent for it, and ordered it to be read to him,
Jer 36:20,
Jer 36:21. He did not desire that Baruch would come and read it himself, who could read it more intelligently and with more authority and affection than any one else; nor did he order one of his princes to do it (though it would have been no disparagement to the greatest of them), much less would he vouchsafe to read it himself; but Jehudi, one of his pages now in waiting, who was sent to fetch it, is bidden to read it, who perhaps scarcely knew how to make sense of it. But those who thus despise the word of God will soon make it to appear, as this king did, that they hate it too, and have not only low, but ill thoughts of it.
II. That he had not patience to hear it read through as the princes had, but, when he had heard
three or four leaves read, in a rage he
cut it with his penknife, and threw it piece by piece
into the fire, that he might be sure to see it
all consumed, Jer 36:22,
Jer 36:23. This was a piece of as daring impiety as a man could lightly be guilty of, and a most impudent affront to the God of heaven, whose message this was. 1. Thus he showed his impatience of reproof; being resolved to persist in sin, he would by no means bear to be told of his faults. 2. Thus he showed his indignation at Baruch and Jeremiah; he would have cut them in pieces, and burnt them, if he had had them in his reach, when he was in this passion. 3. Thus he expressed an abstinent resolution never to comply with the designs and intentions of the warnings given him; he will do what he will, whatever God by his prophets says to the contrary. 4. Thus he foolishly hoped to defeat the threatenings denounced against him, as if God knew not how to execute the sentence when the roll was gone in which it was written. 5. Thus he thought he had effectually provided that the things contained in this roll should spread no further, which was the care of the chief priests concerning the gospel,
Acts 4:17. They had told him how this roll had been read to the people and to the princes. But, says he, I will take a course that shall prevent its being read any more. See what an enmity there is against God in the carnal mind, and wonder at the patience of God, that he bears with such indignities done to him.
III. That neither the king himself nor any of his princes were at all affected with the word:
They were not afraid (
Jer 36:24), no, not those princes that
trembled at the word when they heard it the first time,
Jer 36:16. So soon, so easily, do good impressions wear off. They showed some concern till they saw how light the king made of it, and then they shook off all that concern. They
rent not their garments, as Josiah, this Jehoiakim's own father, did when he had the
book of the law read to him, though it was not so particular as the contents of this roll were, nor so immediately adapted to the present posture of affairs.
IV. That there were three of the princes who had so much sense and grace left as to interpose for the preventing of the burning of the roll, but in vain,
Jer 36:25. If they had from the first shown themselves, as they ought to have done, affected with the word, perhaps they might have brought the king to a better mind and have persuaded him to bear it patiently; but frequently those that will not do the good they should put it out of their own power to do the good they would.
V. That Jehoiakim, when he had thus in effect burnt God's warrant by which he was arrested, as it were in a way of revenge, now that he thought he had got the better, signed a warrant for the apprehending of Jeremiah and Baruch, God's ministers (
Jer 36:26):
But the Lord hid them. The princes bade them abscond (
Jer 36:19), but it was neither the princes' care for them nor theirs for themselves that secured them; it was under the divine protection that they were safe. Note, God will find out a shelter for his people, though their persecutors be ever so industrious to get them into their power, till their hour be come; nay, and then he will himself be their hiding place.
VI. That Jeremiah had orders and instructions to write in another roll the same words that were written in the roll which Jehoiakim had burnt,
Jer 36:27,
Jer 36:28. Note, Though the attempts of hell against the word of God are very daring, yet not one iota or tittle of it shall fall to the ground, nor shall the unbelief of man make the word of God of no effect. Enemies may prevail to burn many a Bible, but they cannot abolish the word of God, can neither extirpate it nor defeat the accomplishment of it. Though the tables of the law were broken, they were renewed again; and so out of the ashes of the roll that was burnt arose another Phoenix.
The word of the Lord endures for ever. VII. That the king of Judah, though a king, was severely reckoned with by the King of kings for this indignity done to the written word. God noticed what it was in the roll that Jehoiakim took so much offense at. Jehoiakim was angry because it was
written therein, saying, Surely
the king of Babylon shall come and destroy this land, Jer 36:29. And did not
the king of Babylon come two years before this, and go far towards
the destroying of this land? He did so (
2Chr 36:6,
2Chr 36:7) in his third year,
Dan 1:1. So that God and his prophets had
therefore become his enemies because they told him the truth, told him of the desolation that was coming, but at the same time putting him into a fair way to prevent it. But, if this be the thing he takes so much amiss, let him know, 1. That the wrath of God shall come upon him and his family, in the first place, by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. He shall be cut off, and in a few weeks his son shall be dethroned, and exchange his royal robes for prison-garments, so that
he shall have none to sit upon the throne of David; the glory of that illustrious house shall be eclipsed, and die in him;
his dead body shall lie unburied, or, which comes all to one,
he shall be buried with the burial of an ass, that is, thrown into the next ditch; it shall lie exposed to all weathers,
heat and frost, which will occasion its putrefying and becoming loathsome the sooner. Not that his body (says Mr. Gataker) could be sensible of such usage, or himself, being deceased, of aught that should befal his body; but that the king's body in such a condition should be a hideous spectacle, and a horrid monument of God's heavy wrath and indignation against him, unto all that should behold it. Even
his seed and his servants shall fare the worse for their relation to him (
Jer 36:31), for they shall be punished, not for his iniquity, but so much the sooner for their own. 2. That all the evil pronounced against Judah and Jerusalem in that roll shall be brought upon them. Though the copy be burnt, the original remains in the divine counsel, which shall again be copied out after another manner in bloody characters. Note, There is no escaping God's judgments by struggling with them.
Who ever hardened his heart against God, and prospered?
VIII. That, when the roll was written anew,
there were added to the former
many like words (
Jer 36:32), many more threatenings of wrath and vengeance; for, since they will yet
walk contrary to God, he will
heat the furnace seven times hotter. Note, As God is in one mind, and none can turn him, so he has still more arrows in his quiver; and those who contend with God's woes do but prepare for themselves heavier of the same kind.
