0. Book Burning and Destruction
Why do people destroy books?
By New York Society for the Suppression of Vice - Public-domain image due to age, extracted from https://omnigraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/shopp_files/0814424-SP.pdf. Ultimately sourced from https://www.granger.com/results.asp?image=0059533., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1253022
Seal of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, founded in 1873. On the left, the purveyor of obscenity is being thrust into a cell; while on the right a Christian layman consigns infamous volumes to the flames.
Opernplatz (Square at the State Opera), Berlin Book Burnings, May 10, 1933
By Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-14597 / Georg Pahl / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5415527
"O you who have been burned in fire," a Kinah/Lament (#41) traditionally recited on the Ninth of Av
This lament was written by Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg ("Maharam of Rothenburg," 1215-1293) to commemorate the burning of the Talmud in Paris in 1242.
Commentary based on lectures of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, The Koren Mesorat HaRav Kinot, Koren 2010, p. 594
"the burning of the Talmud, along with many other books of Jewish learning and scholarship...was the culmination of a systematic and organized plan to collect books of the Oral Law from all over Europe and gather them to be burned in Paris... The burning of these books was a great catastrophe for the Jewish community... We have only one manuscript of the Talmud from that era that survived the edict, the Munich Manuscript...
"the tragic burning of the Talmud motivated the Jews to renewed commitment and dedication, and they devoted their financial resources and efforts to recopying the lost manuscripts."
אֵיכָה נְתוּנָה בְּאֵשׁ אוֹכְלָה תְּאֻכַּל בְּאֵשׁ בָּשָׂר וְלֹא נִכְווּ זָרִים בְּגַחֲלָיִךְ:
Alas! Eichah! She who was given in a consuming fire / has been consumed in the fire of flesh / while the strange ones have not been burnt by your embers...
צוּרִי בְּלַפִּיד וְאֵשׁ הַלְבַעֲבוּר זֶה נְתָנֵךְ כִּי בְּאַחֲרִית תְּלַהֵט אֵשׁ בְּשׁוּלָיִךְ:
My Rock in torch and fire / Was it on this account that He donated you, / that, in the end, fire should set your skirts alight? ...
(יט) וַֽיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר קָרַב֙ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־הָעֵ֖גֶל וּמְחֹלֹ֑ת וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֣ף מֹשֶׁ֗ה וַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ מִיָּדָו֙ אֶת־הַלֻּחֹ֔ת וַיְשַׁבֵּ֥ר אֹתָ֖ם תַּ֥חַת הָהָֽר׃
(19) As soon as Moses came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he became enraged; and he hurled the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain.
1 Introduction: The Writing of the Scroll
Jeremiah 36:1-10
(א) הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֤ה עַֽל־יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ עַל־כׇּל־עַ֣ם יְהוּדָ֔ה בַּשָּׁנָה֙ הָֽרְבִעִ֔ית לִיהוֹיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה הִ֗יא הַשָּׁנָה֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ית לִנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֖ר מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃
Prophecy of the year 605 BCE: 70 years of subjugation (subject of our class #5, see https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/358176?lang=bi
(1) The word which came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, which was the first year of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon.
(יג) (והבאותי) [וְהֵֽבֵאתִי֙] עַל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֔יא אֶת־כׇּל־דְּבָרַ֖י אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֣רְתִּי עָלֶ֑יהָ אֵ֤ת כׇּל־הַכָּתוּב֙ בַּסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נִבָּ֥א יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ עַל־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃
A reference in ch. 25 to "this book/sefer hazeh"
(13) And I will bring upon that land all that I have decreed against it, all that is recorded in this book—that which Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations.
וַֽיְהִי֙ בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הָרְבִעִ֔ית לִיהוֹיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה הָיָ֞ה הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ מֵאֵ֥ת ה' לֵאמֹֽר׃
קַח־לְךָ֮ מְגִלַּת־סֵ֒פֶר֒ וְכָתַבְתָּ֣ אֵלֶ֗יהָ אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֞ים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֧רְתִּי אֵלֶ֛יךָ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל וְעַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וְעַל־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם מִיּ֞וֹם דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ מִימֵ֣י יֹאשִׁיָּ֔הוּ וְעַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
אוּלַ֤י יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה אֵ֚ת כׇּל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י חֹשֵׁ֖ב לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָהֶ֑ם לְמַ֣עַן יָשׁ֗וּבוּ אִ֚ישׁ מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ הָרָעָ֔ה וְסָלַחְתִּ֥י לַעֲוֺנָ֖ם וּלְחַטָּאתָֽם׃ {ס}
וַיִּקְרָ֣א יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ אֶת־בָּר֖וּךְ בֶּן־נֵֽרִיָּ֑ה וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב בָּר֜וּךְ מִפִּ֣י יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ אֵ֣ת כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֧י ה' אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלָ֖יו עַל־מְגִלַּת־סֵֽפֶר׃
וַיְצַוֶּ֣ה יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ אֶת־בָּר֖וּךְ לֵאמֹ֑ר אֲנִ֣י עָצ֔וּר לֹ֣א אוּכַ֔ל לָב֖וֹא בֵּ֥ית ה'׃
וּבָאתָ֣ אַתָּ֡ה וְקָרָ֣אתָ בַמְּגִלָּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־כָּתַֽבְתָּ־מִפִּי֩ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֨י ה' בְּאׇזְנֵ֥י הָעָ֛ם בֵּ֥ית ה' בְּי֣וֹם צ֑וֹם וְגַ֨ם בְּאׇזְנֵ֧י כׇל־יְהוּדָ֛ה הַבָּאִ֥ים מֵעָרֵיהֶ֖ם תִּקְרָאֵֽם׃
אוּלַ֞י תִּפֹּ֤ל תְּחִנָּתָם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י ה' וְיָשֻׁ֕בוּ אִ֖ישׁ מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ הָרָעָ֑ה כִּֽי־גָד֤וֹל הָאַף֙ וְהַ֣חֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר ה' אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃
וַיַּ֗עַשׂ בָּרוּךְ֙ בֶּן־נֵ֣רִיָּ֔ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֖הוּ יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֑יא לִקְרֹ֥א בַסֵּ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י ה' בֵּ֥ית ה'׃ {פ}
וַיְהִ֣י בַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַ֠חֲמִשִׁ֠ית לִיהוֹיָקִ֨ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֤הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁעִ֔י קָֽרְא֨וּ צ֜וֹם לִפְנֵ֧י ה' כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְכׇל־הָעָ֗ם הַבָּאִ֛ים מֵעָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
וַיִּקְרָ֨א בָר֥וּךְ בַּסֵּ֛פֶר אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בֵּ֣ית ה' בְּלִשְׁכַּ֡ת גְּמַרְיָ֩הוּ֩ בֶן־שָׁפָ֨ן הַסֹּפֵ֜ר בֶּחָצֵ֣ר הָעֶלְי֗וֹן פֶּ֣תַח שַׁ֤עַר בֵּית־ה' הֶחָדָ֔שׁ בְּאׇזְנֵ֖י כׇּל־הָעָֽם׃
The scroll is written
In the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
Get a scroll (megillat sefer) and write upon it all the words that I have spoken to you—concerning Israel and Judah and all the nations—from the time I first spoke to you in the days of Josiah to this day.
Perhaps when the House of Judah hear of all the disasters I intend to bring upon them, they will turn back from their wicked ways, and I will pardon their iniquity and their sin.
So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote down in the scroll, at Jeremiah’s dictation, all the words which the LORD had spoken to him.
Jeremiah instructed Baruch, “I am in hiding; I cannot go to the House of the LORD.
But you go and read aloud the words of the LORD from the scroll which you wrote at my dictation, to all the people in the House of the LORD on a fast day; thus you will also be reading them to all the Judeans who come in from the towns.
Perhaps their entreaty will be accepted by the LORD, if they turn back from their wicked ways. For great is the anger and wrath with which the LORD has threatened this people.”
Baruch son of Neriah did just as the prophet Jeremiah had instructed him, about reading the words of the LORD from the scroll in the House of the LORD.
In the ninth month of the fifth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people coming from Judah proclaimed a fast before the LORD in Jerusalem.
It was then that Baruch—in the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, near the new gateway of the House of the LORD—read the words of Jeremiah from the scroll to all the people in the House of the LORD.
Historical Context of Our Passage (with reference to John Bright, Jeremiah (Anchor Bible, v. 21 (1965), pages 181-2)
609-598 | Reign of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah (also called Eliakim) |
Set on throne by Egypt | 605 Nebuchadnezzar becomes king of Babylon. Late Spring or Early Summer 605 Nebuchadnezzar defeats Egyptians at Carchemish Dec. 604. Babylonian army sacks Ashkelon (on the Philistine plain) = possibly the occasion for a fast | 605 Writing of Scroll (ch 36) Kislev/Dec. 604 The Scroll is read in the temple. |
The Family of Shaphan
Shaphan שפן the Scribe (secretary of state to King Josiah) - II Kings 22:8-12
Among his sons:
- Ahikam אחיקם (saves Jeremiah in 26:24)
- Gemariah גמריהו (see Jer 36:10, begs King not to burn the scroll 36:25)
Among his grandsons:
- Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan (Jeremiah joins him in 40:6)
- Micaiah מיכיהו son of Gemariah son of Shaphan (hears the scroll read in the Temple 36:11 and reports this to other officials 36:12)
(ח) וַ֠יֹּ֠אמֶר חִלְקִיָּ֜הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֤ן הַגָּדוֹל֙ עַל־שָׁפָ֣ן הַסֹּפֵ֔ר סֵ֧פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֛ה מָצָ֖אתִי בְּבֵ֣ית ה' וַיִּתֵּ֨ן חִלְקִיָּ֧ה אֶת־הַסֵּ֛פֶר אֶל־שָׁפָ֖ן וַיִּקְרָאֵֽהוּ׃ (ט) וַיָּבֹ֞א שָׁפָ֤ן הַסֹּפֵר֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֥שֶׁב אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ דָּבָ֑ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִתִּ֤יכוּ עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ הַנִּמְצָ֣א בַבַּ֔יִת וַֽיִּתְּנֻ֗הוּ עַל־יַד֙ עֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה הַמֻּפְקָדִ֖ים בֵּ֥ית ה'׃ (י) וַיַּגֵּ֞ד שָׁפָ֤ן הַסֹּפֵר֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֔ר סֵ֚פֶר נָ֣תַן לִ֔י חִלְקִיָּ֖ה הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיִּקְרָאֵ֥הוּ שָׁפָ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
(יא) וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י סֵ֣פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָֽיו׃ (יב) וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־חִלְקִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֡ן וְאֶת־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁ֠פָ֠ן וְאֶת־עַכְבּ֨וֹר בֶּן־מִיכָיָ֜ה וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שָׁפָ֣ן הַסֹּפֵ֗ר וְאֵ֛ת עֲשָׂיָ֥ה עֶֽבֶד־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹֽר׃ (יג) לְכוּ֩ דִרְשׁ֨וּ אֶת־ה' בַּעֲדִ֣י וּבְעַד־הָעָ֗ם וּבְעַד֙ כׇּל־יְהוּדָ֔ה עַל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַנִּמְצָ֖א הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי־גְדוֹלָ֞ה חֲמַ֣ת ה' אֲשֶׁר־הִיא֙ נִצְּתָ֣ה בָ֔נוּ עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־שָׁמְע֜וּ אֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ עַל־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כְּכׇל־הַכָּת֥וּב עָלֵֽינוּ׃
A Scroll is Discovered in the Temple and is read to King Josiah (622 BCE)
(8) Then the high priest Hilkiah said to the scribe Shaphan, “I have found a scroll of the Teaching (Torah) in the House of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, who read it. (9) The scribe Shaphan then went to the king and reported to the king: “Your servants have melted down the silver that was deposited in the House, and they have delivered it to the overseers of the work who are in charge at the House of the LORD.” (10) The scribe Shaphan also told the king, “The high priest Hilkiah has given me a scroll”; and Shaphan read it to the king.
(11) When the king heard the words of the scroll of the Teaching, he rent his clothes. (12) And the king gave orders to the priest Hilkiah, and to Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Michaiah, the scribe Shaphan, and Asaiah the king’s minister: (13) “Go, inquire of the LORD on my behalf, and on behalf of the people, and on behalf of all Judah, concerning the words of this scroll that has been found. For great indeed must be the wrath of the LORD that has been kindled against us, because our fathers did not obey the words of this scroll to do all that has been prescribed for us.”
2. Our Text: How the Scroll of Jeremiah was received
Jeremiah 36:11-32
(יא) וַ֠יִּשְׁמַ֠ע מִכָ֨יְהוּ בֶן־גְּמַרְיָ֧הוּ בֶן־שָׁפָ֛ן אֶת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֥י ה' מֵעַ֥ל הַסֵּֽפֶר׃ (יב) וַיֵּ֤רֶד בֵּית־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ עַל־לִשְׁכַּ֣ת הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְהִ֨נֵּה־שָׁ֔ם כׇּל־הַשָּׂרִ֖ים יוֹשְׁבִ֑ים אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע הַסֹּפֵ֡ר וּדְלָיָ֣הוּ בֶן־שְׁ֠מַֽעְיָ֠הוּ וְאֶלְנָתָ֨ן בֶּן־עַכְבּ֜וֹר וּגְמַרְיָ֧הוּ בֶן־שָׁפָ֛ן וְצִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ בֶן־חֲנַנְיָ֖הוּ וְכׇל־הַשָּׂרִֽים׃ (יג) וַיַּגֵּ֤ד לָהֶם֙ מִכָ֔יְהוּ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁמֵ֑עַ בִּקְרֹ֥א בָר֛וּךְ בַּסֵּ֖פֶר בְּאׇזְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃
(יד) וַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּ כׇל־הַשָּׂרִ֜ים אֶל־בָּר֗וּךְ אֶת־יְהוּדִ֡י בֶּן־נְ֠תַנְיָ֠הוּ בֶּן־שֶׁלֶמְיָ֣הוּ בֶן־כּוּשִׁי֮ לֵאמֹר֒ הַמְּגִלָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָרָ֤אתָ בָּהּ֙ בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם קָחֶ֥נָּה בְיָדְךָ֖ וָלֵ֑ךְ וַ֠יִּקַּ֠ח בָּר֨וּךְ בֶּן־נֵרִיָּ֤הוּ אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֖א אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (טו) וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו שֵׁ֣ב נָ֔א וּקְרָאֶ֖נָּה בְּאׇזְנֵ֑ינוּ וַיִּקְרָ֥א בָר֖וּךְ בְּאׇזְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (טז) וַיְהִ֗י כְּשׇׁמְעָם֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים פָּחֲד֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־בָּר֔וּךְ הַגֵּ֤יד נַגִּיד֙ לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
(11) Micaiah son of Gemariah son of Shaphan heard all the words of the LORD [read] from the scroll, (12) and he went down to the king’s palace, to the chamber of the scribe. There he found all the officials in session: 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 told them all that he had heard as Baruch read from the scroll in the hearing of the people.
(14) Then all the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah son of Shelemiah son of Cushi to say to Baruch, “Take that scroll from which you read to the people, and come along!” And Baruch took the scroll and came to them. (15) They said, “Sit down and read it-a to us.” And Baruch read it to them. (16) When they heard all these words, they turned to each other in fear; and they said to Baruch, “We must report all this to the king.”
(יז) וְאֶ֨ת־בָּר֔וּךְ שָׁאֲל֖וּ לֵאמֹ֑ר הַגֶּד־נָ֣א לָ֔נוּ אֵ֗יךְ כָּתַ֛בְתָּ אֶת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה מִפִּֽיו׃ (יח) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ בָּר֔וּךְ מִפִּיו֙ יִקְרָ֣א אֵלַ֔י אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַאֲנִ֛י כֹּתֵ֥ב עַל־הַסֵּ֖פֶר בַּדְּיֽוֹ׃ {ס}
(יט) וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ הַשָּׂרִים֙ אֶל־בָּר֔וּךְ לֵ֥ךְ הִסָּתֵ֖ר אַתָּ֣ה וְיִרְמְיָ֑הוּ וְאִ֥ישׁ אַל־יֵדַ֖ע אֵיפֹ֥ה אַתֶּֽם׃ (כ) וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ חָצֵ֔רָה וְאֶת־הַמְּגִלָּ֣ה הִפְקִ֔דוּ בְּלִשְׁכַּ֖ת אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֣ע הַסֹּפֵ֑ר וַיַּגִּ֙ידוּ֙ בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִֽים׃
(17) And they questioned Baruch further, “Tell us how you wrote down all these words that he spoke.”-b (18) He answered them, “He himself recited all those words to me, and I would write them down in the scroll in ink.”
(19) The officials said to Baruch, “Go into hiding, you and Jeremiah. Let no man know where you are!” (20) And they went to the king in the court, after leaving the scroll in the chamber of the scribe Elishama. And they reported all these matters to the king.
(כא) וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־יְהוּדִ֗י לָקַ֙חַת֙ אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּ֔ה וַיִּ֨קָּחֶ֔הָ מִלִּשְׁכַּ֖ת אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע הַסֹּפֵ֑ר וַיִּקְרָאֶ֤הָ יְהוּדִי֙ בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּבְאׇזְנֵי֙ כׇּל־הַשָּׂרִ֔ים הָעֹמְדִ֖ים מֵעַ֥ל הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (כב) וְהַמֶּ֗לֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב֙ בֵּ֣ית הַחֹ֔רֶף בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁיעִ֑י וְאֶת־הָאָ֖ח לְפָנָ֥יו מְבֹעָֽרֶת׃ (כג) וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כִּקְר֣וֹא יְהוּדִ֗י שָׁלֹ֣שׁ דְּלָתוֹת֮ וְאַרְבָּעָה֒ יִֽקְרָעֶ֙הָ֙ בְּתַ֣עַר הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְהַשְׁלֵ֕ךְ אֶל־הָאֵ֖שׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶל־הָאָ֑ח עַד־תֹּם֙ כׇּל־הַמְּגִלָּ֔ה עַל־הָאֵ֖שׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־הָאָֽח׃ (כד) וְלֹ֣א פָחֲד֔וּ וְלֹ֥א קָרְע֖וּ אֶת־בִּגְדֵיהֶ֑ם הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְכׇל־עֲבָדָ֔יו הַשֹּׁ֣מְעִ֔ים אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (כה) וְגַם֩ אֶלְנָתָ֨ן וּדְלָיָ֤הוּ וּגְמַרְיָ֙הוּ֙ הִפְגִּ֣עוּ בַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְבִלְתִּ֥י שְׂרֹ֖ף אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּ֑ה וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
(כו) וַיְצַוֶּ֣ה הַ֠מֶּ֠לֶךְ אֶת־יְרַחְמְאֵ֨ל בֶּן־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וְאֶת־שְׂרָיָ֣הוּ בֶן־עַזְרִיאֵ֗ל וְאֶת־שֶׁלֶמְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּֽן־עַבְדְּאֵ֔ל לָקַ֙חַת֙ אֶת־בָּר֣וּךְ הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְאֵ֖ת יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֑יא וַיַּסְתִּרֵ֖ם ה'׃ {ס}
(21) The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll and he fetched it from the chamber of the scribe Elishama. Jehudi read it to the king and to all the officials who were in attendance on the king. (22) Since it was the ninth month, the king was sitting in the winter house, with a fire burning in the brazier before him. (23) And every time Jehudi read three or four columns, [the king] would cut it up with a scribe’s knife and throw it into the fire in the brazier, until the entire scroll was consumed by the fire in the brazier. (24) Yet the king and all his courtiers who heard all these words showed no fear and did not tear their garments; (25) moreover, Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, but he would not listen to them.
(26) The king ordered Jerahmeel, the king’s son, and Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest the scribe Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah. But the LORD hid them.
(כז) וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־ה' אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ אַחֲרֵ֣י ׀ שְׂרֹ֣ף הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּה֙ וְאֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר כָּתַ֥ב בָּר֛וּךְ מִפִּ֥י יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃ (כח) שׁ֥וּב קַח־לְךָ֖ מְגִלָּ֣ה אַחֶ֑רֶת וּכְתֹ֣ב עָלֶ֗יהָ אֵ֤ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִים֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָי֗וּ עַל־הַמְּגִלָּה֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂרַ֖ף יְהוֹיָקִ֥ים מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָֽה׃ (כט) וְעַל־יְהוֹיָקִ֤ים מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ תֹאמַ֔ר כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר ה' אַ֠תָּ֠ה שָׂרַ֜פְתָּ אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַדּ֩וּעַ֩ כָּתַ֨בְתָּ עָלֶ֜יהָ לֵאמֹ֗ר בֹּֽא־יָב֤וֹא מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֙ וְהִשְׁחִית֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וְהִשְׁבִּ֥ית מִמֶּ֖נָּה אָדָ֥ם וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ {ס}
(ל) לָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר ה' עַל־יְהֽוֹיָקִים֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה לֹא־יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֥וֹ יוֹשֵׁ֖ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א דָוִ֑ד וְנִבְלָתוֹ֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה מֻשְׁלֶ֔כֶת לַחֹ֥רֶב בַּיּ֖וֹם וְלַקֶּ֥רַח בַּלָּֽיְלָה׃ (לא) וּפָקַדְתִּ֨י עָלָ֧יו וְעַל־זַרְע֛וֹ וְעַל־עֲבָדָ֖יו אֶת־עֲוֺנָ֑ם וְהֵבֵאתִ֣י עֲ֠לֵיהֶ֠ם וְעַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם וְאֶל־אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֗ה אֵ֧ת כׇּל־הָרָעָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א שָׁמֵֽעוּ׃
(לב) וְיִרְמְיָ֜הוּ לָקַ֣ח ׀ מְגִלָּ֣ה אַחֶ֗רֶת וַֽיִּתְּנָהּ֮ אֶל־בָּר֣וּךְ בֶּן־נֵרִיָּ֘הוּ֮ הַסֹּפֵר֒ וַיִּכְתֹּ֤ב עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ מִפִּ֣י יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ אֵ֚ת כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֣י הַסֵּ֔פֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂרַ֛ף יְהוֹיָקִ֥ים מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה בָּאֵ֑שׁ וְע֨וֹד נוֹסַ֧ף עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם דְּבָרִ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים כָּהֵֽמָּה׃ {פ}
(27) The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah after the king had burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah’s dictation: (28) Get yourself another scroll, and write upon it the same words that were in the first scroll that was burned by King Jehoiakim of Judah. (29) And concerning King Jehoiakim of Judah you shall say: Thus said the LORD: You burned that scroll, saying, “How dare you write in it that the king of Babylon will come and destroy this land and cause man and beast to cease from it?”
(30) Assuredly, thus said the LORD concerning King Jehoiakim of Judah: He shall not have any of his line sitting on the throne of David; and his own corpse shall be left exposed to the heat by day and the cold by night. (31) And I will punish him and his offspring and his courtiers for their iniquity; I will bring on them and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem and on all the men of Judah all the disasters of which I have warned them—but they would not listen.
(32) So Jeremiah got another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah. And at Jeremiah’s dictation, he wrote in it the whole text of the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah had burned; and more of the like was added.
[3 Words to Baruch]
(א) הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּר֙ יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֶל־בָּר֖וּךְ בֶּן־נֵרִיָּ֑ה בְּכׇתְבוֹ֩ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֨ים הָאֵ֤לֶּה עַל־סֵ֙פֶר֙ מִפִּ֣י יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ בַּשָּׁנָה֙ הָרְבִעִ֔ית לִיהוֹיָקִ֧ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֛הוּ מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ב) כֹּה־אָמַ֥ר ה' אֱלֹקֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עָלֶ֖יךָ בָּרֽוּךְ׃ (ג) אָמַ֙רְתָּ֙ אֽוֹי־נָ֣א לִ֔י כִּֽי־יָסַ֧ף ה' יָג֖וֹן עַל־מַכְאֹבִ֑י יָגַ֙עְתִּי֙ בְּאַנְחָתִ֔י וּמְנוּחָ֖ה לֹ֥א מָצָֽאתִי׃
(ד) כֹּ֣ה ׀ תֹּאמַ֣ר אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' הִנֵּ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־בָּנִ֙יתִי֙ אֲנִ֣י הֹרֵ֔ס וְאֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־נָטַ֖עְתִּי אֲנִ֣י נֹתֵ֑שׁ וְאֶת־כׇּל־הָאָ֖רֶץ הִֽיא׃ (ה) וְאַתָּ֛ה תְּבַקֶּשׁ־לְךָ֥ גְדֹל֖וֹת אַל־תְּבַקֵּ֑שׁ כִּ֡י הִנְנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא רָעָ֤ה עַל־כׇּל־בָּשָׂר֙ נְאֻם־ה' וְנָתַתִּ֨י לְךָ֤ אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ֙ לְשָׁלָ֔ל עַ֥ל כׇּל־הַמְּקֹמ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר תֵּלֶךְ־שָֽׁם׃ {פ}
(1) The word which the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch son of Neriah, when he was writing these words in a scroll at Jeremiah’s dictation, in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah: (2) Thus said the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning you, Baruch: (3) You say, “Woe is me! The LORD has added grief to my pain. I am worn out with groaning, and I have found no rest.”
(4) Thus shall you speak to him: “Thus said the LORD: I am going to overthrow what I have built, and uproot what I have planted—this applies to the whole land.-a (5) And do you expect great things for yourself? Don’t expect them. For I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh—declares the LORD—but I will at least grant you your life-b in all the places where you may go.”