John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 36:26

"And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king`s son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Jehovah hid them." — Jeremiah 36:26 (ASV)

This passage describes the king's madness, which was so great that he vented his rage against the Prophet and his scribe. He undoubtedly chose those whom he thought to be most ready to obey him. He would never have chosen officials like Elnathan, Delaiah, or Gemariah, because he knew how much they abhorred such a nefarious deed. Instead, he sent those whom he thought most adapted for such a service as killing Jeremiah and Baruch.

It is reasonably conjectured from this passage and a previous one that Jeremiah was not detained in prison, but rather had been restrained by God from proclaiming his prophecies to the king and from reading them to the people. However, since the word עצור, otsur, elsewhere means a captive or one bound, we might indeed draw a different conclusion.

I will not contend on such a point. I have already explained what I find most convincing—that Jeremiah was prohibited by a secret revelation, just as Paul was forbidden to go to Bithynia (Acts 16:7). It is certainly not probable that he could have escaped from the king’s prison. This would only be plausible if, on one hand, his confinement was not so strict that he felt unable to escape when he saw it was God’s will. Or, on the other hand, perhaps although Jeremiah would not ordinarily have departed from prison, he nevertheless privately escaped the king's immediate rage because he was compelled to do so.

Whatever the case, we ought to notice the words that God hid them. Jeremiah undoubtedly accepted the counsel given to him to take care of his life; he nevertheless now acknowledges that he had been preserved by God’s kindness.

It is as if he had said that although there may be many ways by which we can escape from our present dangers, yet our life is in God’s hand, and He hides and conceals us. For we ourselves would run headlong into death if we were not covered by the shadow of His hand. But the rest tomorrow.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that since You daily invite us kindly to Yourself, and also terrify us to correct our tardiness and sloth—O grant that we may not obstinately resist You and Your word, but be so drawn by Your condescension and subdued by Your threats, that in real fear we may flee to Your mercy, and never hope for any other remedy than obtaining salvation through being reconciled to You; and that we may so seek You in true penitence and by true faith, that You may come to our aid and be favorable to us through Your only-begotten Son, our Lord. Amen.