Bible Commentaries

Jeremiah 45:1 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,

Ver. 1. The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch.] It is thought that Jeremiah preached his last when he prophesied in the foregoing chapter the destruction of Pharaohhophra, and together with him of the Jews that were found in Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar. Lapides loquitur. He seemed to them to speaking stones, as the proverb hath it; and therefore they stoned him to death, as Epiphanius and others report. This word that he spoke to Baruch belongeth to Jeremiah 36:32, and should have been annexed unto it in a natural order, as appeareth both by the date and by the matter. Baruch had, with much pains and patience, first written out Jeremiah’s prophecies, and then read them to the people, and afterwards to the princes. For this piece of work he expected belike some good piece of preferment, as the apostles also did for their forsaking all and following Christ. {Matthew 18:1-4; Matthew 19:27-30; Matthew 20:21-29, &c.} Thus flesh will show itself in the best, and in many things we offend all. But instead of any such thing, Baruch, together with his master, Jeremiah, was sought for to be slaughtered; and besides, he meets with here a contrary prophecy, whereby, before he is comforted, he is sharply reproved, 1. For a dastardly despondency of mind, because his rising expectation, it seems, was frustrated; 2. For a vain, ambitious self-seeking, which was not hid from God.

Jeremiah 45:2 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch;

Ver. 2. Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch.] Whom he knoweth by name, and for whom he hath in store an ample recompense of reward; for never yet did any one do or suffer aught for God’s sake, that complained of a hard bargain.

Jeremiah 45:3 Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.

Ver. 3. Thou didst say,] i.e., Thou didst think, like a poor pusillanimous creature as thou art. But Jeremiah could pity him in this infirmity, because it had sometime been his own case, [Jeremiah 15:10] and may befall the best. Pray for me, I say, pray for me, said Father Latimer, for sometimes I am so fearful and faint hearted that I could even run into a mouse hole.

For the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow.] So do we oft complain, non quia dura sed quia molles patimur, without cause, through feeblemindedness. And when we speak of our crosses, we are eloquent oft beyond truth; we add, we multiply, we rise in our discourse, as here.

Jeremiah 45:4 Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, [that] which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.

Ver. 4. Behold, that which I have built, &c.] A metaphor, as is before noted, ab architectura et agricultura. I am turning all upside down, and wouldst thou only go free and untouched of the common calamity? It is no whit likely; thou must share with the rest.

Jeremiah 45:5 And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek [them] not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

Ver. 5. And seekest thou great things for thyself?] This is, saith one, as if a man should have his house on fire, and instead of seeking to quench his house, should go and trim up his chambers; or as if, when the ship is sinking, he should seek to enrich his cabin.

Seek them not.] For what so great felicity canst thou fancy to thyself in things so fading, as the case now stands especially?

But thy life will I give thee for a prey.] Which, in these killing and dying times, in such dear years of time, is no small mercy.