Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 36
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 36
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 36
"And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying," — Jeremiah 36:1 (ASV)
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim - See (Jeremiah 25:1) note. The present chapter belongs to the very end of that year. The capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar took place early in Jehoiakim’s fourth year, long before the writing of Jehoiakim’s scroll.
The humiliation seems to have sunk deeply into the heart of Jehoiakim, and when Jeremiah prophesied extended dominion to the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 36:29), his anger knew no bounds. It was the fact that judgment had begun which made it expedient to gather Jeremiah’s predictions into one volume, with the object:
- of inducing the people to repent, and
- of persuading the king to be a true subject of the Chaldean empire.
"Take 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." — Jeremiah 36:2 (ASV)
A roll of a book - A parchment scroll, consisting of several skins sewn together, and cut to an even width, with a piece of wood at one end (or, in case of larger volumes, at both ends) on which to roll them up.
Write therein all the words ... - The phrase means that the roll was to contain all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27) on the special point mentioned in Jeremiah 36:3; and that the prophet was not to keep anything back.
"It 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." — Jeremiah 36:3 (ASV)
Compare Jeremiah 26:3. Chronologically, Jeremiah 26 is immediately prior to the present.
"And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of Jehovah:" — Jeremiah 36:5 (ASV)
Shut up – Hindered from going; perhaps through fear of Jehoiakim.
"therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah in the ears of the people in Jehovah`s house upon the fast-day; and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities." — Jeremiah 36:6 (ASV)
The fasting day - A fasting day. Baruch was to wait for a proper opportunity (Jeremiah 36:9).
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