Bible Commentaries

Historical events connected with the collection of Jeremiah's prophecies into a volume, and with his personal history immediately before and after the siege of Jerusalem Jeremiah 36-44.

Jeremiah 36. Attached to the prophecies relating to Israel and Judah is an account of the circumstances under which very many of them, and also the prophecies concerning the Gentiles, were first formed into one volume. See the introduction of Jeremiah.

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 Chaldaeans 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:

(1) of inducing the people to repent, and

(2) of persuading the king to be a true subject of the Chaldaean empire.

A roll of a book - A parchment-scroll, consisting of several skins sewn together, and cut of an even breadth, 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 upon the special point mentioned in Jeremiah 36:3; and that the prophet was not to keep anything back.

Compare Jeremiah 26:3. In point of date Jeremiah 26:is immediately prior to the present.

Shut up - Hindered from going; perhaps through fear of Jehoiakim.

The fasting day - A fasting day. Baruch was to wait for a proper opportunity Jeremiah 36:9.

They will present their supplication - i. e., humbly. See the margin. The phrase also contained the idea of the prayer being accepted.

Reading - To read.