Jeremiah 36:19

“Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.”

Jeremiah 36:19 is part of a passage that describes a significant event in the life of the prophet Jeremiah. In this chapter, Jeremiah receives a message from God, which he dictates to Baruch, his scribe, to write down on a scroll. The message contains prophecies of judgment and calamity upon Judah and its king, Jehoiakim, due to their disobedience and idolatry.

Historical Context

Jeremiah was a prophet during a tumultuous period in Judah’s history. The nation had turned away from God, engaging in idol worship, injustice, and other sinful practices. As a result, Jeremiah prophesied about the impending destruction and exile of Judah by the Babylonian Empire. The events take place during the reign of King Jehoiakim, who ruled Judah from about 609 to 598 BC.

The Scroll and its Custody

According to Jeremiah 36:20, the princes who had heard the scroll went to the king’s court, placed the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and verbally relayed its contents to the king. Another account records that they went into the house of the king, laid the roll in his presence, and read aloud all the words that were written in the roll.

The Transmission of the Message

This ensured the king heard the full prophetic warning, whether through oral summary by the princes or by Baruch reading the entire text before the king.

Significance

Jeremiah’s message of impending judgment and exile was a severe warning to the king and the people of Judah. By preserving and transmitting the message, Jeremiah and his companions demonstrated their obedience to God’s command to proclaim His word, even in the face of opposition. Despite the potential consequences, they faithfully fulfilled their duty to deliver God’s message of repentance and judgment to the king and the nation.