John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 36:11-13

"And when Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of Jehovah, he went down into the king`s house, into the scribe`s chamber: and, lo, all the princes were sitting there, [to wit], Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. Then Micaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people." — Jeremiah 36:11-13 (ASV)

It is not known with what purpose this Michaiah came to the princes and the king’s counselors; he may have been an informer, who intended to create ill will toward the Prophet and to ingratiate himself with the princes, as courtiers usually do. If this was the case, we may learn from this example that not all who hear are so teachable and ready to obey as to make progress in the knowledge of good and holy doctrine. We see that many patiently hear and give some evidence of docility, and yet cherish perversity in their hearts, and afterward slander what they have heard.

Such may have been the character of Michaiah, spoken of here. But his case may have been different—that, being filled with wonder, he conveyed to the king’s counselors what he considered new and, so to speak, incredible. I leave this without offering an opinion, for we have nothing certain on the subject.

It is said that he came into the king’s palace, where all the princes sat, and into the chamber of the scribe. It is probable that this scribe was the king’s chancellor, with whom were all the princes of the court. He names some, and then says that they were all there, and that Michaiah read to them the words that he had heard from the mouth of Baruch when Baruch read to the whole people.

Now it was not without the wonderful purpose of God that the king eventually came to know what had happened in the Temple, so that his perversity against God might be detected, as we will see later. Indeed, this messenger was the means of bringing danger to Jeremiah as well as to his servant Baruch, but the Lord protected them. However, the impiety and the obstinacy of the king were discovered; for when they were all terrified, he despised God and became enraged against his Prophet. He burned the book and also wished to destroy its author.