Jeremiah 36:11-19

How do the officials respond differently from the king?

Berean Standard Bible

11 When Micaiah son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the LORD from the scroll, 12 he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials. 13 And Micaiah reported to them all the words he had heard Baruch read from the scroll in the hearing of the people. 14 Then all the officials sent word to Baruch through Jehudi son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, saying, “Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come here.” So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll and went to them. 15 “Please sit down,” they said, “and read it in our hearing.” So Baruch read it in their hearing. 16 When they had heard all these words, they turned to one another in fear and said to Baruch, “Surely we must report all these words to the king.” 17 “Tell us now,” they asked Baruch, “how did you write all these words? Was it at Jeremiah’s dictation?” 18 “It was at his dictation,” Baruch replied. “He recited all these words to me and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.” 19 Then the officials said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah must hide yourselves and tell no one where you are.”

What is the context?

Micaiah hears the reading and reports it to the officials. They ask Baruch to bring the scroll and read it to them directly.

They react with fear and recognize the need to tell the king. Their questions establish how Baruch wrote the words, and he answers that Jeremiah dictated them.

They then tell Baruch and Jeremiah to hide. Their concern anticipates the danger the king’s response will create.

The episode shows serious hearing among some officials rather than treating every person in authority as having the same response.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley understands the officials’ fear as intensified by the account of the dictation. The narrative itself records their fear and protective advice, without describing every thought behind them.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

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