Jeremiah 45:4

Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land. THAT WHICH I HAVE BUILT ... PLANTED I WILL PLUCK UP - (). This whole nation (the Jews), which I rounded and planted with such extraordinary care and favour, I will overthrow....

He afterwards adds, _Thus shalt thou say to him, _etc. Here the Prophet shews that he was not roused against Baruch through any private displeasure, but that he had only conveyed to him God’s message. _Behold, what I have built I pull down, _and what I have planted _I root up. _Here it is evident that the cause of the reproof was, that Baruch loved himself too much, and wished to evade dangers when God ordered him to engage in the conflict. Jeremiah sets forth what would be to the whole people. The comparison shews what I have stated, that Baruch, disregarding the public safety, was too cautious, and was thus timid and tender as to his own life. This is the reason why God mentions the whole people, as though he had said, “Dost thou wish to be deemed of more importance than the whole people? Is thy life of more value than the wellbeing of the whole community?” It was a disgrace to Baruch...

Verse Jeremiah 45:4. _BEHOLD_, THAT _WHICH I HAVE BUILT_] I most certainly will fulfil all those threatenings contained in the roll thou hast written; for I will destroy this whole land....

LAND - Or, earth. Baruch’s lot was cast in one of those troublous times when God enters into judgment with all flesh Jeremiah 45:5. It was not Judaea only but the whole known world that was thrown into turmoil by Nebuchadnezzars energy Jeremiah 25:26....

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 SHALT THOU SAY UNTO HIM,.... This is spoken to Jeremiah, and is an order from the Lord to him, what he should say in his name to Baruch: THE LORD SAITH THUS, BEHOLD, [THAT] WHICH I HAVE BUILT WILL I BREAK DOWN, AND THAT WHICH I HAVE PLANTED I WILL PLUCK UP; the Jewish nation, both as to church and state; which the Lord had built up as a spacious and beautiful house to dwell in, and had planted as a vineyard, and set it with pleasant plants; but now would demolish this building, and destroy this plantation: EVEN THIS WHOLE LAND; not a few cities only, or only Jerusalem the metropolis, but the whole land of Judea; no part of it but what should be left desolate. So the Targum, "even the whole land of Israel, which is mine.''...

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

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos._ App-6. BUILT... BREAK DOWN... PLANTED... PLUCK UP. See note on Jeremiah 1:10....

_Thus … him_ omit as a gloss. Baruch himself, not the prophet, is still addressed. _Behold, that which I have built, etc_.] Baruch is pained at the calamities in which his country is involved, but let him be sure that the Lord, in bringing Himself to overthrow His cherished people, can only be thus acting because no other course is possible (see introd. note). _and this … land_ probably a gloss (LXX omit). If the clause stands, the reference is to the overthrow of kingdoms by Nebuchadnezzar....