Ch. Jeremiah 45:1-5. Rebuke and promise to Baruch

The date assigned in Jeremiah 45:1 is rejected by Gi., Du. and Erbt on the ground that in Jehoiakim’s fourth year, when the Roll was issued, the future of the Southern kingdom was not yet despaired of. Moreover, “these words” might naturally be referred to those of ch. 44, and Baruch might be expected to place extracts such as this from his memoirs in due chronological order. But modesty might easily have led him to the present arrangement, as well as the fact that so personal a reference as this would consort ill with the contents of the Roll, dealing as it did with the nation collectively. Co. maintains the date given in Jeremiah 45:1. Baruch was filled with grief at the prophecies which had produced so profound an impression on the king and princes. He is here reminded that “the age is one in which he must not expect great things for himself, but must be content if he escapes with his bare life; even Yahweh (Jeremiah 45:4) is obliged to destroy the work of His own hands.” Dr. The ch. is in metrical form.

The ch. may be summarized as follows.

Jeremiah 45:1-5. Baruch, on writing the Roll, bewails the guilt and the coming fate of his loved nation. Jehovah rejoins that He has no alternative but to overthrow and uproot Judah, even though it is His chosen people. He bids Baruch seek no great thing for himself, but promises him that in the midst of disaster his life shall be preserved.

1. unto Baruch] See on Jeremiah 32:12.

these words] See introd. note for the difficulty in harmonizing this expression with the date given in the v. It is, however, not unnatural to suppose that this section stood in connexion with ch. 36 in some way. Perhaps we should read “the words,” referring to the Roll (ch. Jeremiah 36:1 ff.).

2. unto] rather, as mg. concerning.

3. sorrow to my pain] The “pain” was caused by the thought of his fellow-countrymen’s sins and of the judgements impending on them; the “sorrow” by knowing what was in store for himself.

4. 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.

5. seek them not] What form Baruch’s aspirations took can only be matter of conjecture. It has been suggested that as grandson of Maaseiah who was governor of Jerusalem in Josiah’s reign (2 Chronicles 34:8) he may have aspired to high office, or, as ch. Jeremiah 43:3 may be thought to hint, that he was “Chaldaïzing” and looking in that direction for promotion.

thy life will I give unto thee for a prey] See on Jeremiah 21:9.