John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 36:1-2

"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, 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 36:1-2 (ASV)

The Prophet relates in this chapter a history worthy of being remembered and very useful to us. He says that he wrote down by God’s command what he had previously taught in the Temple. He also sent that summary by Baruch to be recited in the Temple. The report of this spread, and the king’s counselors called Baruch to them. When they heard what was written in the volume, they brought word to the king, having first admonished Baruch to conceal himself, together with Jeremiah, lest the king should be exasperated against them.

And so it happened: the king, being instantly filled with indignation, ordered Jeremiah and Baruch to be taken so that they might be put to death. But they were hidden and protected through God’s favor. We shall see later what the king by his obstinacy had effected, even causing the Prophet to speak more boldly against him.

The Prophet then says at the beginning that the word of Jehovah came, by which he was ordered to write in a volume of a book whatever he had previously spoken. By "the volume of a book" he means the volume in which he was to write, because ספר sepher, does not here mean a written book, for the volume was without any writing.

Then the Prophet must have dictated to his servant Baruch. This mode of speaking also occurs elsewhere, as in Psalm 40:7. But the Hebrews, according to an ancient custom, called a volume מגלה megele; because they had no books in a compact form, such as we have today, but had volumes or rolls; and the same word, "volume," is also used in Latin.

For just as the Hebrews called what is folded up מגלה megele—which comes from גלל gelal, meaning to fold up or to roll—so the Latins also derived "volume" from a verb, volvo, which means to roll, and we call it rolle. In Gaul, they used the same form of writing, for all ancient documents and judicial proceedings were formerly accustomed to be written on rolls, and in the old archives, nothing is found that is not so written.

God then ordered His prophet to take a roll, and He commanded him to write all the words which he had heard from the mouth of God, and which he had pronounced against Israel, against Judah, and against all other nations.

We see here, in the first place, the benefit of having the Scripture: namely, that what would otherwise vanish or escape human memory may remain and be handed down from one to another, and also that it may be read. For what is written can be better weighed during leisure time.

When one only speaks, everyone takes in something according to their capacity and attention; but since words from a person’s mouth glide away, the usefulness of Scripture therefore appears more evident. For when what is not immediately understood is repeated, it brings more light; and then what one reads today, one may read tomorrow, next year, and many years later.

Since God saw that He had been, as it were, beating the air when He had spoken by His prophet, His purpose was that those things which Jeremiah had spoken in vain should be written down.

In this manner, He, no doubt, intended to condemn both the king and his counselors, and also the whole people, not only for their idleness but also for their insensibility. This was because all His teaching had been without fruit, even though Jeremiah had labored much among them and had been assiduous and faithful in discharging his office as a teacher.

We now perceive God’s design in saying, Take a volume and write in it; and He says, all the words which I have spoken to thee. This was said so that the Jews might understand that Jeremiah did not bring forward his own fabrications, but faithfully delivered what he had heard from God’s mouth.

He adds, against Israel and against Judah. For Jeremiah at the beginning had prophesied against the ten tribes; but after the kingdom of Israel was cut off, he performed his office only towards the remaining people, so that his doctrine referred especially to the Jews.

It is also added, against all nations; and this we shall see shortly. It therefore appears that his prophecies were not written according to the order of time, as I have reminded you before, but that the scroll was written without regard to order.

Yet it was preserved to such an extent that this book contains a summary of all the doctrine Jeremiah taught during the whole course of his ministry. He says, from the day in which he began to speak, even from the days of Josiah, he says, to this day.

And the Prophet had been performing his duty as a teacher not for ten, twenty, or thirty, but for forty years.