Jeremiah 45:2

_THUS SAITH THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, UNTO THEE, O BARUCH;_ No JFB commentary on this verse....

PROMISE TO BARUCH. EXPOSITION JEREMIAH 45:1 THESE WORDS; _i.e._ the revelations which Baruch had committed (or was committing) to writing. JEREMIAH 45:3 HATH ADDED GRIEF TO MY SORROW. Baruch felt "sorrow" or "pain" at the sinfulness of the people; "grief" or "anxiety" was added by Jeremiah's announcement of the judgment. I FAINTED IN MY SIGHING; rather, _I am weary with my sighing_;_ _comp. Psalms 6:7 (Authorized Version, 6). Jeremiah 45:

THUS SAITH THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, UNTO THEE, O BARUCH. Whom he knew by name, had a great regard for, and honours with this prophecy; and, being an Israelite, both in a literal and spiritual sense, he addresses him as the God of Israel, and as being his covenant God; in whom he should put his trust, and from whom he might expect safety and protection in the worst of times; and to whose sovereign will, in all the dispensations of his providence, he ought to have humbly and patiently submitted....

CHAPTER 45 This is the shortest chapter and contains a special message to Baruch, the companion and secretary of the prophet Jeremiah. It must be noticed that this did not take place in Egypt, where now the prophet and his friend sojourned, but it was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. Baruch had just finished writing the words which Jeremiah dictated. It was no doubt a strenuous task, and when Baruch laid down his pen, the work having been finished, the Lord sent him a special message, showing that He had not forgotten the faithful scribe. He, too, was deeply exercised over the existing conditions; he shared the grief and sorrow of the prophet. But there must have been a measure of disappointment in Baruch's heart. Had he expected some special recognition? Was he seeking something for himself, expecting great things? Had he planned and was he lifted up with some high ambition? It would se...

BARUCH. This prophecy concerning him is dated 604, when the first roll (these words) was written (Jeremiah 36:1 ff.). The implied reference to personal danger might be explained by Jeremiah 36:26, if the date were a year later, or by the troubles of 586, if we disregard Jeremiah 45:1_ b_. Probably this formed the (fitting) close of Baruch's biography of the prophet. Baruch has complained that to his pain (perhaps on account of the fortunes of his people) sorrow (concerning his personal future) is added. Yahweh asks whether _he_ can expect much when Yahweh has to be destroying His own work; yet Baruch's life shall be spared (J

THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL. See note on Jeremiah 11:3....

_unto_ rather, as mg. _concerning_....

III. A PERSONAL NOTE TO BARUCH Jeremiah 45:1-5 TRANSLATION (1) The word which Jeremiah the prophet spoke unto Baruch the son of Neriah when he wrote these words in a book from the mouth of Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: (2) Thus says the LORD the God of Israel concerning you Baruch: (3) You have said, Woe is me now! for the LORD has added grief to my hurt. I am weary with my sighing and I cannot find rest. (4) Thus you shall say unto him, Thus says the LORD: Behold, that which I have built I am about to tear down and that which I planted I am about to pull up, even the whole land. (5) And are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them, for behold, I am about to bring calamity upon all flesh (oracle of the LORD); but I will give you your life as spoil wherever you shall go. COMMENTS Chapter 45 dates

BARITCH'S APPENDIX TO THE ROLL OF JEREMIAH 36 Baruch, a man of social position (see Intro.), seems to have expected either important office in the state or more probably the gift of prophecy. On the occasion of his writing of the roll at Jeremiah's dictation, the prophet warns him that his ambition is not to be gratified....

XLV. (1) THE WORD THAT JEREMIAH THE PROPHET SPAKE UNTO BARUCH... — The chapter is obviously misplaced as far as chronological order is concerned. and ought to follow on Jeremiah 35, 36. It gives us a glimpse of singular interest into the character of the prophet’s helper. He was discouraged and desponding, and yet the very despondency was that of an ambitious temperament eager to take the lead. His master was in prison. Neither king nor nobles listened to him. He had, it may be, drawn for himself an ideal picture of a successful work, in which he himself should be a chief agent. (See Note on Jeremiah 43:3.) “Grief was added to his sighing, and he found no rest.” And now all seemed failure. The prophet had passed through such moods himself (Jeremiah 15:10;...