Bible Commentaries

The Thirty-Second Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

the fourth year of Jehoiakim. This was after Nebuchadnezzar had left Jerusalem with his band of young captives, including Daniel. See App-86. The city had become quieted down again.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

roll = a writing scroll. Hebrew. megillah. Occurs twenty-one times (fourteen times in this chapter. Psalms 40:7. Ezekiel 2:9; Ezekiel 3:1, Ezekiel 3:2, Ezekiel 3:3. Zechariah 5:1, Zechariah 5:2). The name given to the five books called the megilloth (Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther).

words. Plural Compare "word" (singular) (Jeremiah 36:1).

Israel. These words were now to be written because Israel had been already in dispersion 114 years, and could not be spoken, as they were when Judah alone was concerned. Compare Jeremiah 25:2.

from the days of Josiah. See Jeremiah 1:1-3. Not only what is recorded in Jer 25, but what Jehovah had spoken to him for the past twenty-three years.

evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra"a". App-44.

every man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.

iniquity. Hebrew. "avon. sin. Hebrew. chata App-44.

Baruch = Blessed. The first mention of him chronologically. Other references to him in Jeremiah 32:12; Jeremiah 43:3, Jeremiah 43:6; Jeremiah 45:1-5. He was brother to Seraiah. Compare Jeremiah 32:12 with Jeremiah 51:59.

shut up. Not in prison (for Compare Jeremiah 36:19), but in hiding, or from some unexplained reason.

the fasting day = a fast day. Being in the ninth month (Jeremiah 36:9), it was not that prescribed in the Law, which was in the seventh month (Leviticus 16:29; Leviticus 23:27).

the fifth year. The reading was deferred for some months.

ninth month. Our December. See App-51.

they proclaimed, &c. = all the People of Jerusalem, and all the People who were coming in and out of the cities of Jerusalem, had proclaimed a fast before Jehovah.

Gemariah. He was brother of Ahikam (Jeremiah 26:24), and not the Gemariah of Jeremiah 29:3, who was Hilkiah's son.

Shaphan. See note on 2 Kings 22:3.

the scribe: i.e. Shaphan (not Gemariah), who was the scribe in Josiah's days. See 2 Kings 22:3, 2 Kings 22:8, 2 Kings 22:9, 2 Kings 22:10, 2 Kings 22:12. At the time of this history Elishama was the scribe (unless there were more than one). See verses: Jeremiah 36:12, Jeremiah 36:20, Jeremiah 36:21.

of = from.

went down. Compare Jeremiah 22:1.

Elnathan. The king's emissary against Urijah (Jeremiah 26:22).

the = in the.

Sit down now. Compare "stood" (Jeremiah 36:21). Showing that these princes were favourable to Jeremiah.

the words. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "these words".

We will surely tell. Showing their earnestness and sincerity in the matter.

man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.

Stood. See note on Jeremiah 36:15.

on the hearth = in the brasier: i.e. the vessel into which the burning charcoal was put from the hearth in houses of the better sort.

leaves = columns.

he: i.e. the king.

cut it = cut it up into fragments.

penknife = a scribe"s knife. The words of Jehovah are cut up to-day, not with a scribe's knife, but with scribe's pens in the hands of the modern critics. Yet they are "not afraid".

not afraid. The courtiers were less open to holy fear than the People were. See note on Jeremiah 36:9. Contrast Jehoiakim's father, king Josiah (2 Kings 22:11). Contrast also the sentence pronounced on them (2 Kings 22:18-20 with Jeremiah 36:30, below on "him").

Nevertheless = Moreover.

made intercession. Showing that Elnathan was less hostile than we might perhaps have concluded from Jeremiah 26:22 and 2 Kings 24:8.

Hammelech = the king. Compare Jeremiah 38:6. 1 Kings 22:26. 2 Kings 11:1, 2 Kings 11:2. Zephaniah 1:8.

The Thirty-Third Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

came. The word of the LORD was "not bound". Compare 2 Timothy 2:9.

the roll, and the words. Note the Figure of speech Hendiadys = "the roll, yea, the very words of Jehovah written therein".

another roll. See the Structure, (p. 1069). We are not told what became of this, so it may have got, later, into the hands of Nehemiah, when he visited the Temple ruins.

thou shalt say. Not verbally to Jehoiakim, but in the other scroll.

of = concerning.

none to sit, &c. = none sitting, &c. Hebrew. yashab, implying permanence. His son Jehoiachin reigned only three months, and then only on sufferance (2 Kings 24:6-8). See note on Jeremiah 22:30. See App-99.

punish him = visit upon him. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:34). App-92.

like words = like unto them. They are preserved to us in this book to a large extent. The history in Jeremiah 37 and Jeremiah 38 reverts to the last two years of Zedekiah's reign, and the actual siege of Jerusalem. It is a new and independent section. See Structure, above.