Jeremiah36chapter 36

This chapter shows the machinery of Scripture being made. Jeremiah, barred from the temple, dictates twenty-three years of preaching to Baruch son of Neriah. Baruch writes with a reed pen cut to a chisel point and ink made of soot and gum, on a roll made of papyrus sheets or prepared skin, in narrow columns read from right to left.

A clay seal impression reading belonging to Berekhyahu son of Neriyahu the scribe is well known and matches this man's full name exactly — though it surfaced through the antiquities trade rather than a controlled dig, so its authenticity is argued over and it cannot carry weight on its own. A seal impression of Gemariah son of Shaphan, the official whose temple chamber Baruch reads from in this chapter, was found in place in the burnt debris of the City of David, and that one is not in doubt.

The reading happens on a proclaimed fast day, when country people had come into the city — the largest possible audience. Baruch reads, an official reports it, the scroll is read again to the officials, who go pale and tell the two men to hide.

Then the king. It is the ninth month, winter, and Jehoiakim is in the winter house with a brazier burning in front of him. As each three or four columns are read, he cuts them off with a scribe's knife and drops them in the fire until the whole roll is burned, and nobody tears their clothes. A second scroll is written with many similar words added.