Chapter XXXVI
Ver. 1-32. Baruch writes, and reads publicly Jeremiah's Prophecies collected in a Volume. The Roll
IS BURNT BY Jehoiakim, and Written again by BaBUCH AT Jeremiah's DrcTATiON. 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., 37., 38., 39.), so Jeremiah also In ch. 37., 38., 39., 40., 41., 42., 43. ; 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 is 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
(cf. 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 favour of an earthly king. We will surely tell the king—Not the language ol threatening, but implying that the matter is of sucli 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 contiuuDusly, or accurately from the prophet's own dictation. 18. his mouth—Baruch replies, it was by the oi-al dictation of the prophet; v. 2accords with this view, rather than with the notion that Jeremiah repeated his prophecies from MSS. Ink—his specification of the "ink" implies, I added nothing save the hand, pen, and ink. 19. Showing tliat they were not altogether without better feelings (cf. v. 16, 25). 20. chamber—there were chambers in the king's palace round the court or great hall, as in the temple {v. 10). The roll was "laid up" there for safe-keeping, witli other public records, ai. sent Jehudi—Note, how unbelievers
fifth or beginning of the sixth year, and carried away captive Jehoiakim, Daniel, &c. Jehoiakim returned the same year, and for three years was tributary: then withheld tribute. Nebuchadnezzar returned and took Jerusalem, and carried off Jelioiakim, who died on the road. This harmonizes this chapter with 2 Kings 24. and Daniel 1. See Kote, ch. 22. 19. 3. roll of a book—a book formed of prepared skins made Into a roll. Cf. " volume of the book,"
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. !J3. winter-liouse (Amos 3. 15.) ninth month viz., of the religious year, t,
i.e., the Pentateuch (Psalm 40. 7). 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—(Ch. 25. 15, &c.) from . .
e., November or December. Are on . . . hearth—rather, </ie stove was burning before him. In the East neitlier 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
days of Josiah—(Ch. 25. 3.) From Josiah's thirteenth year (ch. 1. 2). 3. hear—consider seriously, return . . . fk-om . . . evil way—(Jonah 3. 8.) 4. all . . . words of
. . . Liord—God specially suggesting what might otherwise have escaped his memory, and directing the choice of words, as well as the substance (John 14. 26; 16. 13). 5. I am shut up—not in prison, for there Is no account of his Imprisonment under Jehoiakim, and tj. 19, 26 are inconsistent with it: but, "I am prevented," viz., by some hicdrance; or, through fear of the king, to whose anger
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 tlie books of Moses in the synagogue in the present day are written in a long parchment rolled round a stick, the 543
Chaldeans^ liaise the Siege. JEEEMIAH XXXVII, XXXVIII. Their Metwn and Success Pre(liciod.
writing being divided into columns, lilie pages, penknife —^the writer's knife with wliich ttie reed, used as a pen, was mended. " He" refers to the king (u. 22). As often as Jehudi read tliree or four columns, tlie king cut asunder the part of the roll read; and so he treated the wliole, until all the parts read consecutively were cut and hurnt
meet Pharaoh. .5. After this temporary diversion, caused by Pharaoh in favour of Jerusalem, the Egyptians returned no more to its help (2 Kings 24. 7). Judea had the misfortune to lie between the two great contending powers, Babylon and Egypt, and so was exposed to the alternate inroads of the one or the other. Josiah, taking side with Assyria, fell in battle witli Pliaraoh-necho al Megiddo (2 Kings 23. 29). Zedekiah, seeking the Egyptian alliance in violation of his oath, was now about to be taken by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Chronicles 36. 13 ; Ezekiel 17.
ti. 21, "all these words," imply that the whole volume was read through, not merely the first three or four columns
(1 Kings 22. 8). 34. The king and his "servants" were more hardened tlian the " princes" and councillors (u. 12-
15, 17). 7. shall return—witliout accomplishing any deliverance for you. 8. (Ch. 34. 22.) 9. yourselves Hebrew, " souls." 10. yet . . . tliey—even a few wounded men would suflice for your destruction. 11. broken up "gone up." 13. Benjamin—to his own town, Anathoth. to separate himself—Jlfarj/in translates, " lo slip away," from a Hebrew root, "to be smooth," so, to slip away as a slippery thing that cannot be held. But it is not likely the prophet of God would flee in a dishonourable way ; and "in the midst of the people" rather implies open departure along with others, than clandestine slipping away by mixing with the crowd of departing people. Ratlier, it means, to separate himself, or to divide his place of residence, so as to live partly here, partly there, without fixed habitation, going to and fro among the people. [Ludovicus DE DiEU.] Maurer translates, "to take his portion tlience," to realize the produce of his property in Anathoth [Henderson], or to take possession of the land which he bought from Hanameel. [Maurer.] 13. ward i. e., the guard, or watch. Hananiah—whose death Jeremiah predicted (ch. 28. 16); the grandson in revenge takes Jeremiah into custody on the charge of deserting (" tliou fallest away," ch. 38. 19; 52. 15; 1 Samuel 29. 3) to the enemy. His prophecies gave colour to the charge (cli. 21. 9; 3S. i). 15. scribe—one of the court secretaries ; often in tlie East part of the private house of a public officer serves as a prison. 16. dungeon . . . cabins—the prison consisted of a pit (the " dungeon") witii vaulted cells round tlie sides of it. The "cabins," from a root, to bend one's self. 17. secretly —Zed€kiah was ashamed to be seen by his courtiers consuiting Jeremiali (John 12. 43; 5. 4-1; 19. 38). thou shalt be delivered—Had Jeremiali consulted his earthly interests, he would have answered very difi'erentiy. Contrast ch.
16, Notes). Contrast the humble fear exhibited by Josiah at the reading of the law (2 Kings 22. 11). 35. {Note, v. 16.) The "nevertheless" aggravates the king's sin; tliough God would have drawn him back through their interces-
sion, he persisted: judicial blindness and reprobation! 36. HammelecH—not as Margin, " of tlie king." Jeholakim at tills time (the fifth year of his reign) had no grown-up son: Jeconiah, his successor, was then a boy of eleven (cf. 2 Kings 23. 36, with 21. 8). Iiid them—(Psalm
31. 20; 83. 3; Isaiah 26. 20.) 37. roll, and . . . woi-ds—t. e., the roll of words. 38. all the former words—It is in vain that the ungodly resist the power of Jehovali
not one of His words shall fall to the ground (Matthew
5. 18; Acts 9. 5; 5. 39). 39. say to Jeholaklm—not in person, as Jeremiali was "hidden" (v. 26), 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 Iiave none to sit upon the throne—fulfilled (2 Kings 24.8, 25). He had successois, but not directly of his posterity, except fits son Jeconiah, whose three months' reign is counted as nothing. Zedekiah was not son, but uncle of Jeconiah, and was raised to the tin-one
in contempt of him and his father Jehoiakim (ch. 22. 30). dead body . . . cast ont—(Ch. 22. 18, 19.) day . . . heat
. . . night . . . frost—there are often these variations of temperature in the East between night and day (Genesis
31. lOj. 33. added besides . . . many like words—Sinners gain uotliing but additional punishment by setting aside the word of Jehovah. The law was similarly l ewritten after tlie first tables had been broken owing to
Israel's idolatry (Exodus 32., 34).
6. 14; Isaiah 3(). 10; Ezekiel 13. 10. 18. What—In what respect have I offended? 19. AVliere arc now your prophets—The event has showed them to be liars; and, as surely as the king of Babylon has come already, notwithstanding their prophecy, so surely sliall he return. 30. be accepted—ratlier, " let my supplication be humbly presented" (ch. 36. 7, Note.) [Henderson.] lest I die titere —in tlie subterranean dungeon (v. 16), from want of proper sustenance {v. 21.) The prophet naturally shrank from death, which makes his spiritual firmness the more remarkable;' he was ready to die rather than swerve from his duty. [Calvin.] 31. court of the prison—(Ch. 32. 2;