What is the meaning of Jeremiah 36:9? Now in the ninth month “Now in the ninth month…” situates us in late fall or early winter (Kislev, roughly November/December). The detail reminds us that Scripture roots God’s dealings in real time and space; this was no vague religious story but an event on the calendar. That same month is later mentioned when Jehoiakim burns Jeremiah’s scroll (Jeremiah 36:22), showing how quickly the king’s hardness followed the people’s humility. Similar time-stamped moments appear elsewhere, underscoring God’s orderly timeline (Ezra 10:9; Zechariah 7:1). of the fifth year The “fifth year” of Jehoiakim equals 604 B.C., the year after Nebuchadnezzar’s first incursion (2 Kings 24:1). Judah had already tasted Babylon’s might; fear and uncertainty filled the nation. God often allows political upheaval to press people toward repentance (Haggai 1:5-6). The fast comes on the heels of Jeremiah’s command (Jeremiah 36:2-3) that his words be read so “each may turn from his wicked way.” of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah Mentioning Jehoiakim right after his godly father Josiah highlights the tragic contrast. Josiah “walked in all the ways of David” (2 Kings 22:2), but Jehoiakim “did evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 23:37). Jeremiah later condemns him for oppression and bloodshed (Jeremiah 22:13-19). The fast therefore unfolded under a monarch who personally spurned God, revealing that national repentance can begin with the people even when leaders resist—much like in Esther 4:16 or 1 Samuel 14:24-45. a fast before the LORD was proclaimed Fasting in Scripture is a heart-cry for mercy and change (Joel 2:12-13; Isaiah 58:6). The phrase “before the LORD” shows the fast’s God-ward focus, not mere ritual. Given Babylon’s threat, the people likely sought deliverance (2 Chronicles 20:3-4). Yet fasting without obedience is empty; Jeremiah’s earlier sermon at the temple (Jeremiah 7:3-11) had already called for tangible reform. The coming scroll reading (Jeremiah 36:6) provides God’s answer to their fast, demonstrating that repentance must be guided by His word (Nehemiah 9:1-3). to all the people of Jerusalem and all who had come there from the cities of Judah The invitation was broad: city dwellers and out-of-towners alike. Corporate gatherings for repentance dot Israel’s story—see Jonah 3:5, where “all the people of Nineveh…put on sackcloth,” or Joel 1:14, where elders and inhabitants assemble. Jerusalem, God’s chosen city (Psalm 48:2), becomes the focal point for nationwide contrition. By drawing everyone together, the leaders acknowledged that sin and its consequences are communal, and so is the call to return (Deuteronomy 29:10-15). summary Jeremiah 36:9 captures a moment of urgent, collective humility: in the bleak ninth month of Jehoiakim’s turbulent fifth year, Judah proclaims a fast, gathering every corner of the land to seek the LORD. The date roots the event in history; the mention of Jehoiakim contrasts a wicked ruler with a people momentarily stirred toward repentance; the fast itself underscores God’s invitation to return; and the inclusion of all Judah reveals the communal nature of both sin and salvation. God responds by having Jeremiah’s scroll read aloud, demonstrating that genuine fasting must lead to hearing and obeying His word. |
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