Jeremiah 36KJV
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Jeremiah36

King James Version · Public Domain

1And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

2Take thee a roll of a book, 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.

3It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil 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.

4Then 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.

5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the Lord:

6Therefore 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 Lord's house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.

7It 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 hath pronounced against this people.

8And 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 Lord's house.

9And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, 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.

10Then 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 Lord's house, in the ears of all the people.

11When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the Lord,

12Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat 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.

13Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.

14Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine 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.

15And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.

16Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.

17And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?

18Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.

19Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.

20And 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.

21So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.

22Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.

23And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, 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.

24Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.

25Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.

26But 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: but the Lord hid them.

27Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,

28Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.

29And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the Lord; Thou hast burned 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?

30Therefore thus saith the Lord of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.

31And 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 hearkened not.

32Then 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 Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 36.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Baruch is to write the prophecies of Jeremiah. (1-8). The princes advise them to hide themselves. (9-19). The king having heard a part, burns the roll. (20-32).

vv1-8

The writing of the Scriptures was by Divine appointment. The Divine wisdom directed to this as a proper means; if it failed, the house of Judah would be the more without excuse. The Lord declares to sinners the evil he purposes to do against them, that they may hear, and fear, and return from their evil ways; and whenever any one makes this use of God's warnings, in dependence on his promised mercy, he will find the Lord ready to forgive his sins. All others will be left without excuse; and the consideration that great is the anger God has pronounced against us for sin, should quicken both our prayers and our endeavours.

vv9-19

Shows of piety and devotion may be found even among those, who, though they keep up forms of godliness, are strangers and enemies to the power of it. The princes patiently attended the reading of the whole book. They were in great fear. But even those who are convinced to the truth and importance of what they hear, and are disposed to favour those who preach it, often have difficulties and reserves about their safety, interest, or preferment, so that they do not act according to their convictions, and try to get rid of what they find troublesome.

vv20-32

Those who despise the word of God, will soon show, as this king did, that they hate it; and, like him, they would wish it destroyed. See what enmity there is against God in the carnal mind, and wonder at his patience. The princes showed some concern, till they saw how light the king made of it. Beware of making light of God's word!

Cross References

Jeremiah 36
v7Jeremiah 36:3thematic

Direct parallel in the chapter highlighting God's purpose in warning of judgment: repentance and forgiveness.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Contrasts Jehoiakim's successful execution of Urijah with his failed attempt to arrest Jeremiah and Baruch.

Supported by JFB

v12 Kings 24:1thematic

Aligns the fourth year of Jehoiakim with the rise of Babylonian dominance under Nebuchadnezzar.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Jeremiah 45:1thematic

Jeremiah's direct word of comfort to his scribe Baruch during this exact writing event.

Supported by JFB

v2Psalms 40:7allusion

Calvin and JFB trace the Hebrew term for 'roll of a book' to this ancient poetic description.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v2Jeremiah 25:3thematic

Establishes the historical timeline of Jeremiah's ministry starting from the thirteenth year of Josiah.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v30Jeremiah 22:19fulfillment

The direct fulfillment of the prophecy that Jehoiakim would be cast out without an honorable burial.

Supported by JFB

Contrasts the national fast called here with the regular prescribed annual Day of Atonement fast.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Demonstrates the real danger to Jeremiah and Baruch, prompting the princes' advice to hide.

Supported by John Calvin

v242 Kings 22:11-19contrast

Contrasts Jehoiakim's defiant refusal to rend his clothes with his father Josiah's humble repentance.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v26Psalms 91:1thematic

Illustrates the theological reality behind the statement that 'the Lord hid them'.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v10Jeremiah 26:10thematic

Identifies the location of the 'new gate' where Baruch read the scroll to the people.

Supported by JFB

Illuminates Jehoiakim's focus on luxurious, cedar-lined winter houses while ignoring covenant justice.

Supported by JFB

v3Jonah 3:8thematic

Parallels the language of national fasting and returning from evil ways to avert judgment.

Supported by JFB

v23Proverbs 21:30thematic

Poetically frames the futility of the king's attempt to destroy God's word with a penknife.

Supported by Matthew Henry