What does Jeremias Chapter 36 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Dictation and fast-day reading distinguish fourth and fifth years. Princes’ inquiry and concealment precede royal burning. A qualified succession sentence accompanies rewritten words.

Chapter breakdown

Jeremias 36 dates the writing command to Joakim's fourth year: all words against Israel, Juda and nations since Josias go on a book roll so hearing might bring repentance and forgiveness. Baruch son of Nerias writes dictation. Jeremias cannot enter the house; the edition explains self-seclusion from persecution rather than imprisonment. Baruch must read on a fast day to people from Juda, hoping supplication and return.

In the fifth year, ninth month, a proclaimed fast accompanies reading from Gamarias son of Saphan's treasury in upper court at new gate. Micheas reports to princes in the secretary's chamber, including Elisama, Dalaias, Elnathan, Gamarias and Sedecias. Judi is sent for Baruch; seated reading astonishes them, leading to intended royal report. Asked about composition, Baruch describes mouth-dictation and ink. Princes order both men to hide with location unknown, deposit volume with Elisama and report to the king.

Judi fetches and reads to king and princes in winter house beside coal hearth. After three or four pages the volume is cut by penknife and burned, while king and servants lack fear and garment-rending. Elnathan, Dalaias and Gamarias plead unsuccessfully; arrest orders name Jeremiel, Saraias and Selemias, but the Lord hides the two men. A new volume must contain former words. Joakim's objection to foretold Babylonian ruin precedes no David-throne successor and a body cast to daytime heat and night frost. The edition qualifies the successor claim with Jechonias's short reign and deportation within three months. Punishment includes seed, servants, Jerusalem and Juda for unheard words. Baruch rewrites with many more words; parchment, exact added content, lifelong prison and absence of biological heirs are not supplied.

The story inside

Opening: Dictation and fast-day reading distinguish fourth and fifth years. Development: Princes’ inquiry and concealment precede royal burning. Conclusion: A qualified succession sentence accompanies rewritten words.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Dictation and fast-day reading distinguish fourth and fifth years.
2
Princes’ inquiry and concealment precede royal burning.
3
A qualified succession sentence accompanies rewritten words.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 87859–87866
36:2. Take thee a roll of a book, and thou shalt write in it all the words that I have spoken to thee against Israel and Juda, and against all the nations from the day that I spoke to thee, from the days of Josias even to this day. 36:3. If so be, when the house of Juda shall hear all the evils that I purpose to do unto them, that they may return every man from his wicked way: and I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin.
Lines 87946–87948
36:23. And when Judi had read three or four pages, he cut it with the penknife, and he cast it into the fire, that was upon the hearth, till all the volume was consumed with the fire that was on the hearth.