Introduction
King Jehoiakim is annoyed by the LORD's message in Jeremiah's scroll.
Questions
1. Why did the LORD tell Jeremiah to write down all his words in a scroll?
v 2 and 3 “Take a scroll of a book, and write in it all the words that I have spoken to you ... It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I intend to do to them; that they may each return from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”
2. What was the king's reaction when he heard the words in the scroll?
v 23 When Jehudi had read three or four leaves, the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.
3. What did the LORD tell Jeremiah to say about the king after he had burnt the scroll?
v 29 and 30 Concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, ‘The LORD says: “You have burnt this scroll, saying, “Why have you written therein, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cause to cease from there man and animal?’ ” ’Therefore the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: “He will have no one to sit on David’s throne. His dead body will be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 3 Jeremiah is told to write down all the LORD's words to him
- v 4 to 7 Baruch writes all the words and Jeremiah tells him to read them to all the people in the hope they will repent and the LORD's anger will be appeased
- v 8 to 10 Baruch reads to all the people at the entry to the LORD's house
- v 11 to 19 Baruch is then asked to read to the princes who decide they ought to tell the king. They tell Baruch and Jeremiah to go and hide
- v 20 to 26 Jehudi reads to the king who then puts each section in the fire despite their protests
v 27 to 32 Jeremiah and Baruch have to write the scroll again and the LORD decrees a severe punishment for the king