---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Jeremiah 36"
description: "CHAPTER 36   :-. BARUCH
WRITES, AND READS
PUBLICLY JEREMIAH"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/jeremiah/36"
---

CHAPTER 36

. BARUCH
WRITES, AND READS
PUBLICLY JEREMIAH'S
PROPHECIES COLLECTED
IN A VOLUME. THE
ROLL IS
BURNT BY JEHOIAKIM,
AND WRITTEN AGAIN
BY BARUCH AT
JEREMIAH'S DICTATION.

**1. fourth year**—The command to
write the roll was given in the fourth year, but it was not read
publicly till the fifth year. As Isaiah subjoined to his predictions
a history of events confirming his prophecies ([Isaiah 36:1-22](../../../kjv/isaiah/36/1-22);
[Isaiah 37:1-38](../../../kjv/isaiah/37/1-38); [Isaiah 38:1-22](../../../kjv/isaiah/38/1-22);
[Isaiah 39:1-8](../../../kjv/isaiah/39/1-8)), so Jeremiah
also in the thirty-seventh through forty-third chapters; but he
prefaces his history with the narrative of an incident that occurred
some time ago, showing that he, not only by word, but in writing, and
that twice, had testified all that he about to state as having
subsequently come to pass [GROTIUS].
At the end of Jehoiakim's third year, Nebuchadnezzar enrolled an army
against Jerusalem and took it in the end of the fifth or beginning of
the sixth year, carrying away captive Jehoiakim, Daniel, c. Jehoiakim
returned the same year, and for three years was tributary: then he
withheld tribute. Nebuchadnezzar returned and took Jerusalem, and
carried off Jehoiakim, who died on the road. This harmonizes this
chapter with [2 Kings 24:1-20](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/1-20)
[Daniel 1:1-21](../../../kjv/daniel/1/1-21). See on [Daniel 1:1-27](../../../kjv/daniel/1/1-27).

**2. roll of a book**—a book
formed of prepared skins made into a roll. Compare "volume of
the book," that is, the Pentateuch (). It does not follow that his prophecies were not before
committed to writing; what is implied is, they were now written
together in *one* volume, so as to be read continuously to the
Jews in the temple.
**against . . . nations**—
([Jeremiah 25:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/15), &c.).
**from . . . days of Josiah**—
([Jeremiah 25:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/3)). From Josiah's
thirteenth year ([Jeremiah 1:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/1/2)).

**3. hear**—consider seriously.
**return . . . from . . . evil
way**— ([Jonah 3:8](../../../kjv/jonah/3/8)).

**4. all . . . words of . . . Lord**—God
specially suggesting what might otherwise have escaped his memory,
and directing the choice of words, as well as the substance ([John 14:26](../../../kjv/john/14/26);
[John 16:13](../../../kjv/john/16/13)).

**5. I am shut up**—not in prison,
for there is no account of his imprisonment under Jehoiakim, and
[Jeremiah 36:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/19); [Jeremiah 36:26](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/26)
are inconsistent with it: but, "*I am prevented,*"
namely, by some hindrance; or, through fear of the king, to whose
anger Baruch was less exposed, as not being the author of the
prophecy.

**6. go**—on the following year
([Jeremiah 36:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/9)).
**fasting day**—(See [Jeremiah 36:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/9)). An extraordinary fast, in the *ninth* month (whereas
the fast on the great day of atonement was on the tenth day of the
*seventh* month, [Leviticus 16:29](../../../kjv/leviticus/16/29);
[Leviticus 23:27-32](../../../kjv/leviticus/23/27-32)), appointed to
avert the impending calamity, when it was feared Nebuchadnezzar,
having in the year before (that is, the fourth of Jehoiakim), smitten
Pharaoh-necho at Carchemish, would attack Judea, as the ally of Egypt
([2 Kings 23:34](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/34); [2 Kings 23:35](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/35)).
The fast was likely to be an occasion on which Jeremiah would find
the Jews more softened, as well as a larger number of them met
together.

**7. present . . .
supplication**—literally, "supplication shall fall";
alluding to the *prostrate attitude* of the supplicants ([Deuteronomy 9:25](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/9/25);
[Matthew 26:39](../../../kjv/matthew/26/39)), as petitioners fall
at the feet of a king in the East. So *Hebrew,* [Jeremiah 38:26](../../../kjv/jeremiah/38/26);
[Daniel 9:18](../../../kjv/daniel/9/18), *Margin.*

**9. they proclaimed . . . to all the
people . . . to all,** &c.—rather, "all the people . . .
all the people proclaimed a fast" [MICHAELIS].
The chiefs appointed the fast by the wish of the people. In either
version the ungodly king had no share in appointing the fast.

**10. chamber**—Baruch read from
the window or balcony of the chamber looking into the court where the
people were assembled. However, some of the chambers were large
enough to contain a considerable number ().
**Gemariah**—distinct from
the Gemariah, son of Hilkiah, in .
**Shaphan**—the same person
as in [2 Kings 22:3](../../../kjv/2-kings/22/3).
**scribe**—secretary of
state, or he who presided over the public records.
**higher court**—that of
the priests, the court of the people being lower ([2 Kings 22:3](../../../kjv/2-kings/22/3)).
**new gate**— ([2 Kings 22:3](../../../kjv/2-kings/22/3)). The east gate.

**12. scribe's chamber**—an
apartment in the palace occupied by the secretary of state.
**princes**—holding a
counsel of state at the time.
**Elnathan**—who had
already been an instrument of evil in Jehoiakim's hand ([Jeremiah 26:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/26/22);
[Jeremiah 26:23](../../../kjv/jeremiah/26/23)).
**Hananiah**—the false
prophet ([Jeremiah 28:10-17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/28/10-17)).

**14. Jehudi**—of a good family,
as appears from his pedigree being given so fully, but in a
subordinate position.
**come**—Instead of
requiring Baruch to *come* to them, they ought to have *gone*
to the temple, and there professed their penitence. But pride forbade
it [CALVIN].

**16. afraid, both one and
other**—*Hebrew,* "fear-stricken," they turned to
one another (compare [Genesis 42:28](../../../kjv/genesis/42/28)).
This showed, on their part, hesitancy, and some degree of fear of
God, but not enough to make them willing to sacrifice the favor of an
earthly king.
**We will surely tell the
king**—not the language of threatening but implying that the
matter is of such moment that the king ought to be made acquainted
with it, so as to seek some remedy against the divine anger.

**17.** What they wished to know
was, whether what Baruch had read to them was written by him from
memory after hearing Jeremiah repeating his prophecies continuously,
or accurately from the prophet's own dictation.

**18. his mouth**—Baruch replies
it was by the *oral* dictation of the prophet; accords with this view, rather than with the notion that
Jeremiah repeated his prophecies from manuscripts.
**ink**—his specification
of the "ink" implies: I added nothing save the hand, pen,
and ink.

**19.** Showing that they were not
altogether without better feelings (compare [Jeremiah 36:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/16);
[Jeremiah 36:25](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/25)).

**20. chamber**—There were
chambers in the king's palace round the court or great hall, as in
the temple ([Jeremiah 36:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/10)). The
roll was "laid up" there for safekeeping, with other public
records.

**21. sent Jehudi**—Note how
unbelievers flee from God, and yet seek Him through some kind of
involuntary impulse [CALVIN].
Jehudi seems to have been the king's ready tool for evil.

**22. winter house**— ().
**ninth month**—namely, of
the religious year, that is, November or December.
**fire on . . . hearth**—rather,
*the stove* was burning before him. In the East neither chimneys
nor ovens are used, but, in cold weather, a brazen vessel containing
burning charcoal; when the wood has burned to embers, a cover is
placed over the pot to make it retain the heat.

**23. three or four leaves**—not
distinct leaves as in a book, but the consecutive spaces on the long
roll in the shape of *doors* (whence the *Hebrew* name is
derived), into which the writing is divided: as the books of Moses in
the synagogue in the present day are written in a long parchment
rolled round a stick, the writing divided into columns, like pages.
**pen-knife**—the writer's
knife with which the reed, used as a pen, was mended. "He"
refers to the king ([Jeremiah 36:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/22)).
As often as Jehudi read three or four columns, the king cut asunder
the part of the roll read; and so he treated the whole, until all the
parts read consecutively were cut and burnt; [Jeremiah 36:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/22), "*all* these words," implies that the *whole*
volume was read through, not merely the first three or four columns
([1 Kings 22:8](../../../kjv/1-kings/22/8)).

**24.** The king and his "servants"
were more hardened than the "princes" and councillors (see
on [Jeremiah 36:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/3); [Jeremiah 36:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/3); [Jeremiah 36:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/3)). Contrast
the humble fear exhibited by Josiah at the reading of the law ([Jeremiah 36:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/3)).

**25.** (See on ). The "nevertheless" aggravates the king's sin;
though God would have drawn him back through their intercession, he
persisted: judicial blindness and reprobation!

**26. Hammelech**—not as *Margin,*
"of the king." Jehoiakim at this time (the fifth year of
his reign) had no grown-up son: Jeconiah, his successor, was then a
boy of eleven (compare [2 Kings 23:36](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/36);
[2 Kings 24:8](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/8)).
**hid them**— ([Psalms 31:20](../../../kjv/psalms/31/20);
[Psalms 83:3](../../../kjv/psalms/83/3); [Isaiah 26:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/20)).

**27. roll, and . . . words**—that
is, the roll of words.

**28. all the former words**—It is
in vain that the ungodly resist the power of Jehovah: not one of His
words shall fall to the ground ([Matthew 5:18](../../../kjv/matthew/5/18);
[Acts 9:5](../../../kjv/acts/9/5); [Acts 5:39](../../../kjv/acts/5/39)).

**29. say to Jehoiakim**—not in
person, as Jeremiah was "hidden" (), but by the written word of prophecy.
**saying, Why**—This is
what the king had desired to be said to Jeremiah if he should be
found; kings often dislike the truth to be told them.

**30. He shall have none to sit upon
the throne**—fulfilled ([2 Kings 24:8](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/8);
[2 Kings 25:1-30](../../../kjv/2-kings/25/1-30)). He had
*successors,* but not directly of his posterity, *except his
son Jeconiah,* whose three months' reign is counted as nothing.
Zedekiah was not the son, but the uncle of Jeconiah, and was raised
to the throne in contempt of him and his father Jehoiakim ([2 Kings 25:1-12](../../../kjv/2-kings/25/1-12)).
**dead body . . . cast out**—
([Jeremiah 22:18](../../../kjv/jeremiah/22/18); [Jeremiah 22:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/22/19)).
**day . . . heat . . . night .
. . frost**—There are often these variations of temperature in
the East between night and day ([Jeremiah 22:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/22/19)).

**32. added besides . . . many like
words**—Sinners gain nothing but additional punishment by setting
aside the word of Jehovah. The law was similarly rewritten after the
first tables had been broken owing to Israel's idolatry ([Exodus 32:19](../../../kjv/exodus/32/19);
[Exodus 34:1](../../../kjv/exodus/34/1)).

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