Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 36
Thomas Aquinas Commentary
Jeremiah 36
Thomas Aquinas 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, 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. 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. Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book." — Jeremiah 36:1-4 (ASV)
- The description of the writing is given first.
- Second is the destruction of the writing, at now the king was sitting in the winter-house (Jeremiah 36:22).
- Third is its restoration, at and the word of the
Lord came to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:27).
Concerning the first point, there are three parts:
- He gives the command to write: take the scroll. Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, that he who reads it may run over it (Habakkuk 2:2).
- He gives the fruit of the writing: for perhaps when the house of Judah. If the wicked man repents from all his sins which he has done, and shall keep all my commandments, and execute judgment and justice, he shall surely live, and not die (Ezekiel 33:19).
- The minister of the writing: Jeremiah, therefore, called Baruch. Write what you see in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia (Revelation 1:11).
"And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of Jehovah: 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. It may be they will present their supplication before Jehovah, and will return every one from his evil way; for great is the anger and the wrath that Jehovah hath pronounced against this people. And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of Jehovah in Jehovah`s house. Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that all the people in Jerusalem, and all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem, proclaimed a fast before Jehovah. Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan, the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the new gate of Jehovah`s house, in the ears of all the people." — Jeremiah 36:5-10 (ASV)
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The declaration is given to the people. The details are as follows:
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First, the command to announce is given, as Jeremiah states: I am imprisoned. This calls to mind the Apostle’s words: Labor like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3), and That more of the brothers in the Lord, trusting in my chains, may dare more abundantly to speak the word of God without fear (Philippians 1:14).
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Second, the manner of the announcement is described. Regarding the place, it was in the house of the LORD, which is a place of devotion. As the Lord God says, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples (Isaiah 56:7).
Regarding the time, it was on the fast day, which is a time of contrition. This relates to the question in Isaiah: Is this not rather the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bundles which oppress, to let those who are broken go free, and to break every burden. To break your bread to those who are hungry and needy, and to bring the homeless into your house. When you see one who is naked, to cover him, and to despise not your own flesh (Isaiah 58:6–7).
Regarding the audience, the words were read while the people listen and also in the hearing of all Judah, who come out of their cities.
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Third, the intended fruit of the declaration is given. The first desired outcome is that it may be that they present their petition before the LORD, meaning it might be accepted. The second is their subsequent holiness: and each one turn from his own wicked way; for it is a great fury and indignation. This is reinforced elsewhere: The great wrath of the LORD is kindled against us, because our fathers did not listen to the words of this book, to do all that was written to us (2 Kings 22:13).
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Fourth, the fulfillment of the command is described. Regarding the action, it says simply: and Baruch did. This demonstrates obedience, as taught in Hebrews 13:17: Obey those who are set over you, and be subject to them.
Regarding the time, it was now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim. This public gathering recalls the command in Joel 2:15: Sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the young, and those who suck at the breast.
Regarding the place, Baruch read . . . in the opening of the new gate, which Joash had made (2 Chronicles 27:3), and in the upper vestibule. The author clarifies this as the upper part of the courtyard where the priests would offer sacrifices. This act of public reading is like that described in Nehemiah 9:3: They read in the scroll of the Lord their God four times in the day, and four times in the night.
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The declaration is given to the princes, as mentioned in Jeremiah 36:11.
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The declaration is given to the king, as mentioned in Jeremiah 36:16.
"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. Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thy hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them. And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears. Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one toward another, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words." — Jeremiah 36:11-16 (ASV)
Here, the declaration to the princes is given.
- Concerning the writing of the prophecy and making its meaning known to the princes: and Micaiah related to them. Let him who hears say, Come (Revelation 22:17).
- The petition for the writing: all the princes, therefore, sent . . . to Baruch, saying, ‘Take the scroll, from which you read in the hearing of the people, in your hand’—mystically, this means in operation. Whatever your hand is able to do, do it with earnestness; for neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge will be in the underworld, to which you are hastening (Ecclesiastes 9:10). The bringing of the scroll: therefore, Baruch took the scroll.
- The recitation of the writing: and they said to him, ‘Sit, and read these things in our ears.’ For I have not hesitated to declare the whole plan of God to you (Acts 20:27).
Finally, the effect of the reading is described: therefore, when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear. This recalls the scripture: Are not my words like fire, says the
"Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one toward another, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words. And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth? Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book. Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye are. And they went in to the king into the court; but they had laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe; and they told all the words in the ears of the king. So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll; and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes that stood beside the king." — Jeremiah 36:16-21 (ASV)
Here, the declaration to the king is given.
He speaks of the preparation of the declaration, as they propose to announce it: we must tell, because the king is able to correct the sins of the people. The king who sits upon the throne of judgment scatters every evil thing with his gaze (Proverbs 20:8).
They examine the manner in which the book was written. For this reason, a question is first posed: and they inquired of him, saying, ‘Tell us, how did you write all these words from his mouth?’ This was so that from the manner of its writing, they might know whether it was produced by the Spirit of God. Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1).
And the response is given: and Baruch said to them, ‘He spoke from his mouth as if reading,’ doing so without hesitation or premeditation. Do not consider how, or what you are to say, for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you (Matthew 10:19). Above: behold I have given my words in your mouth (Jeremiah 1:9).
And the advice to hide is given: hide, fearing the obstinacy and cruelty of the king. Has it not been told to you my lord what I did, when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, that I hid of the prophets of the Lord a hundred men, by fifties in caves, and fed them with bread and water? And now you say, ‘Go and say to your lord, “Elijah is here,”’ that he may kill me? (1 Kings 18:13–14).
The declaration is given: and they went in. To you, therefore, O kings, that you should learn wisdom, lest you perish .
The text is read aloud: and the king sent Jehudi; and when I sat as a king with his army round about, I was nonetheless a comforter of those who mourn (Job 29:25).
"Now the king was sitting in the winter-house in the ninth month: and [there was a fire in] the brazier burning before him. And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that [the king] cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. And they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll; but he would not hear them." — Jeremiah 36:22-25 (ASV)
This section describes the destruction of the scroll, and regarding this, there are two points to consider:
- The destruction of the scroll itself.
- The persecution of its authors, as seen in the verse, and the king commanded Jerahmeel (Jeremiah 36:26).
Concerning the first point—the destruction of the scroll—there are three things to note:
- The setting for the destruction is described: in the winter-house, there was set before him a brazier filled with coals. Because of his luxurious habits, he had separate houses for winter and summer, as the prophet Amos mentions: I shall strike the winter house with the summer house, and the ivory houses shall perish, and many houses shall be destroyed (Amos 3:15).
- The act of destruction is described: and when Jehudi had read three columns—that is, small pages—the king cut it with the knife, the kind with which a quill is prepared. This reflects the attitude described in Isaiah: Take the way from me, turn the path from me, let the Holy One of Israel cease from before us (Isaiah 30:11). And so they did what they should not have done, and also failed to do what they should have. Their reaction is recorded: And the king and all his servants were not afraid, which stands in stark contrast to the example of Josiah, of whom it is written, When the king had heard the words of the book of the Law, he rent his garments (2 Kings 22:11).
- The objection of the princes is mentioned: Moreover, Elnathan, and Delaiah, and Gemariah had urged the king. Something similar is found in 2 Samuel 24:4, where the word of the king prevailed over the words of Joab, and his princes.
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