{"id":71515,"date":"2018-07-09T17:47:10","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-445\/"},"modified":"2023-10-19T08:56:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T05:56:38","slug":"wall-445","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-445\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-Jeremiah-45"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"445","date":"20270513","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"45","chapter_main_number":"445","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"70809","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - Jeremiah Chapter 45 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - Jeremiah Chapter 45","slug":"jps-audio-bible-jeremiah-chapter-45","old_id":"70809","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"445","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Jeremiah Chapter 45","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-753876298\/jps_audio_bible_jeremiah_chapter_45","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"45","chapter_main_number":"445","date":"20270513","wall_id":"445"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"118454","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Baruch, The Non-Prophet ","post_title":"Baruch, The Non-Prophet","slug":"baruch-the-non-prophet","old_id":"118454","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"445","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"He remained (just) a scribe - but we can blame the people for that\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Baruch ben Neriah was a faithful prot\u00e9g\u00e9e of Jeremiah. He risked his life confronting kings, spreading Jeremiah\u2019s message and assisting the prophet. It would make sense for a short chapter about Baruch to be one of praise. Instead, the chapter is a rebuke of Baruch. The rebuke, though, seems misplaced. Baruch is attacked for lamenting his lot, but Jeremiah essentially does the same thing. So why was Baruch attacked?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi explains that Baruch\u2019s lament was not that he was downtrodden and harassed like Jeremiah, but that he was downtrodden and oppressed but never received prophecy. Baruch looked back at other prophetic prot\u00e9g\u00e9es, like Elisha, and hoped that he would also receive the word of God. Instead, he remained a scribe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi explains that God\u2019s message to Baruch is that the people are unworthy of more prophecy: \u201cif there is no vineyard, there is no fence\u201d (Rashi on verse 3). Baruch does not get a prophetic mission because the people do not deserve it, not for any failing on Baruch\u2019s part. This could be why the chapter ends with a message of hope. Do not worry Baruch, you will not receive the same prophecy as Jeremiah, but you will receive the same protection:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh\u2014declares GOD \u2014but I will at least grant you your life in all the places where you may go (verse 5).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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She has been sharing her passion for Jewish texts of all kinds for over 15 years, with students of all ages. Sarah\u2019s essays have been published in a variety of internet and print media, including Times of Israel, Kveller, Jewish Action, OU Life, The Lehrhaus, TorahMusings, and more. 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Poor Baruch son of Neriah, getting kicked when he\u2019s down.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe Lord has added grief to my pain\u2026 and I have found no rest\u201d (45:3).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What pain does Jeremiah\u2019s scribe suffer, and what grief did God kick him with?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Midrash interprets \u201crest\u201d in the verse as prophecy: Unlike others who served prophets and then rose to it themselves (Joshua, who served Moses, and Elisha, who served Elijah), Baruch could not \u201cfind\u201d his own prophecy. On top of that pain, \u201che would write Jeremiah\u2019s words of prophecy\u201d (Radak), throwing his frustrations constantly in his face.\u00a0 Always the apprentice, never the master.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Metzudat David agrees that Baruch harbored frustrated prophetic aspirations, but understands the specific reference to pain, and the grief heaped upon it, differently: \u201cWhen I heard your prophecy of destruction, my heart was pained; now, when I write the scroll as if it\u2019s already happened, my grief is increased.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Taking the two commentaries together, we might suggest Baruch ached so deeply both for his own sake and on behalf of his people. As a prophet\u2019s scribe, he was intimately familiar both with (someone else\u2019s) prophetic experience and with the approaching national disasters, which he was forced to concretize with his pen.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This passage isn\u2019t really about Baruch\u2019s complaints, though, but about God\u2019s response. \u201cI am going to overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted. And do you expect great things for yourself? Don\u2019t expect them. For I will bring disaster upon all flesh\u201d (ibid. 4-5). Have some perspective, Baruch, God seems to say. You\u2019re sad to not have prophecy, but what\u2019s the point of prophecy anyway? If it\u2019s to serve as God\u2019s messenger to His people, \u201cIf there are no sheep, why a shepherd?\u201d (Radak and others, from midrash). In the midst of national disaster, you\u2019re worried about your own missed potential as their leader? And if Baruch\u2019s yearning for prophetic connection is more for the sake of his own spiritual development, that sort of spiritual flow from above \u201ccan only come when the divine presence rests in Israel, not in a time of trouble\u201d (Malbim).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As we\u2019re all finding in these times of viral troubles, when the world is down, everyone feels the kick. Some ambitious tracks might stall; even some efforts towards personal development might take a back seat as we focus on navigating our own and others\u2019 basic needs. Like Baruch, we might simply find ourselves in the wrong historical moment to be able to achieve certain goals, at least for now and at least in the way we\u2019d envisioned.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But God doesn\u2019t just kick Baruch harder with the \u201cget some perspective!\u201d rebuke. He reminds him of what is truly essential, that remains to him: \u201cI will grant you your life as <\/span>shallal<\/span><\/i> (plunder) in all the places where you go\u201d (ibid. 5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When the world is down, life becomes \u201c<\/span>shallal<\/span><\/i> \u2013 plunder,\u201d \u201cas if you grabbed it for yourself\u201d (Metzudat David). Life itself can be an accomplishment, plunder, a trophy of war.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Gustave Dor\u00e9 engraving \"Baruch\" - 1866 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":72398,"alt":"","title":"jer45-baruch","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","width":488,"height":599,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch-244x300.jpg","medium-width":244,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","medium_large-width":488,"medium_large-height":599,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","large-width":488,"large-height":599,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","1536x1536-width":488,"1536x1536-height":599,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","2048x2048-width":488,"2048x2048-height":599,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","post_full_size-width":488,"post_full_size-height":599,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch-342x420.jpg","home_baner-width":342,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Getting Reminded Of What Is Essential - Then And Now","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"God gives Baruch some tough love","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":72398,"alt":"","title":"jer45-baruch","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","width":488,"height":599,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch-244x300.jpg","medium-width":244,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","medium_large-width":488,"medium_large-height":599,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","large-width":488,"large-height":599,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","1536x1536-width":488,"1536x1536-height":599,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","2048x2048-width":488,"2048x2048-height":599,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch.jpg","post_full_size-width":488,"post_full_size-height":599,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-baruch-342x420.jpg","home_baner-width":342,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"45","chapter_main_number":"445","date":"20270513","wall_id":"445"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"72385","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Meanwhile, Twenty Years Earlier ","post_title":"Meanwhile, Twenty Years Earlier","slug":"meanwhile-twenty-years-earlier","old_id":"72385","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. 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Our very brief chapter is a prophecy addressed by God to Baruch, Jeremiah\u2019s scribe. While that is not surprising, the date assigned to this prophecy is.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The word which the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch son of Neriah, when he was writing these words in a scroll at Jeremiah\u2019s dictation, in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah (1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The temple was destroyed in 586 BCE. Jehoiakim ascended the throne in 609\u2014making 605 his fourth year\u2014which means between the previous chapter and this one we have gone almost twenty years back in time. Shadal* explained the retreat as editorial: \u201cFirst, he completed all the public affairs; then, he related an individual matter even though it preceded them in time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this prophecy, God addressed Baruch\u2019s feelings of pain and anguish that he suffered on account of which he claimed to have found \u201cno rest\u201d (3). Rashi fastened on the use of the verb \u201cto rest\u201d as descriptive of the prophetic state (cf. Numbers 11: 25-26) and interpreted Baruch\u2019s anguish as his regret over never having achieved prophecy. Shadal took a more contextual approach, suggesting that Baruch was upset over having been persecuted along with Jeremiah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the same regard, when God said, in closing, \u201cAnd do you expect great things for yourself? Don\u2019t expect them. For I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh\u2014declares the LORD\u2014but I will at least grant you your life in all the places where you may go\u201d (5), Rashi interpreted the \u201cgreat things\u201d as Baruch\u2019s desire to be a prophet, while Shadal said: \u201cAccording to the <\/span>peshat<\/span><\/em>, to escape from pain and anguish.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

*For an explanation of our objectives in studying Shadal\u2019s commentary, <\/span>see our introduction<\/span><\/a> in Jeremiah chapter 1.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":72387,"alt":"","title":"jer45-anguish","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish.jpg","width":1280,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Meanwhile, Twenty Years Earlier","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A look back at Baruch - and his anguish","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":72387,"alt":"","title":"jer45-anguish","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish.jpg","width":1280,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-anguish-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"45","chapter_main_number":"445","date":"20270513","wall_id":"445"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"72400","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Ben Neriah Brothers And The Case Of The Greek Colophon ","post_title":"The Ben Neriah Brothers And The Case Of The Greek Colophon","slug":"the-ben-neriah-brothers-and-the-case-of-the-greek-colophon","old_id":"72400","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":44114,"post_title":"Shalom Holtz","slug":"shalom-holtz","old_id":"44114","first_name":"Shalom ","last_name":"Holtz ","description":"Shalom E. Holtz is Professor of Bible at Yeshiva University. He is the author of numerous comparative studies of biblical and ancient Near Eastern law. His most recent book is Praying Legally (2019), which examines courtroom metaphors in Hebrew prayer. ","short_description":"Shalom E. Holtz is Professor of Bible at Yeshiva University.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":44115,"alt":"","title":"shalom holtz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","width":200,"height":200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","medium_large-width":200,"medium_large-height":200,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","large-width":200,"large-height":200,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","1536x1536-width":200,"1536x1536-height":200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","2048x2048-width":200,"2048x2048-height":200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","post_full_size-width":200,"post_full_size-height":200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","home_baner-width":200,"home_baner-height":200}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"445","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A book with several endings\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

This chapter's opening verses introduce a prophecy to Baruch son of Neriah \"when he was writing these words in a scroll at Jeremiah's dictation in the fourth year of Jehoiakim\" (1).\u00a0 In terms of strict chronology, this chapter belongs together with chapter 36, which narrates the origins of the Book of Jeremiah. In terms of theme, chapter 45 parallels, to some extent, Jeremiah 51:59\u201364. These verses also refer to the composition of a scroll (of prophecies against Babylon) by Jeremiah, and contain instructions to Seraiah son Neriah, brother of our chapter's Baruch.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Modern scholars suggest that Jeremiah 51:59\u201364 serve as a kind of \"colophon,\" a closing remark about a book's composition.\u00a0 These verses, they note, come at the very end of the main body of the Book of Jeremiah as we have it; only chapter 52, a general historical narrative, follows. Chapter 45, with its reference to the composition of the Book of Jeremiah, also resembles a colophon, but is out of place in our version of the Book of Jeremiah. Instead, its proper placement is preserved in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.\u00a0 There, indeed, our chapter closes the main body of a version of the Book of Jeremiah quite different from the one before us in Hebrew.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Characterizing our chapter and Jeremiah 51:59\u201364 as colophons suggests something further about the composition of the two versions.\u00a0 Colophons often refer to the scribes who composed the preceding text. Thus, the Greek version (and the original Hebrew it translates) ends with a prophecy to Baruch, known to have had a hand in publishing Jeremiah's prophecies.\u00a0 Our Hebrew version ends with a parallel reference to Baruch's brother, Seraiah, who might have been responsible for bringing us the Hebrew text we read today.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

(Se also: Richard C. Steiner, \"The Two Sons of Neriah and the Two Editions of Jeremiah in the Light of Two Atbash Code-Words for Babylon,\" <\/span>Vetus Testamentum<\/span><\/i> 46 (1996): 74-84).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":72401,"alt":"","title":"jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Ben Neriah Brothers And The Case Of The Greek Colophon","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A book with several endings","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":72401,"alt":"","title":"jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-End-is-Near-Sign-1.png","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"45","chapter_main_number":"445","date":"20270513","wall_id":"445"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"72330","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Baruch Ben Neriah \u2013 Always A Secretary, Never A Prophet ","post_title":"Baruch Ben Neriah \u2013 Always A Secretary, Never A Prophet","slug":"baruch-ben-neriah-always-a-secretary-never-a-prophet","old_id":"72330","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"445","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And complaining about it doesn\u2019t help\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Our Chapter is devoted to the continuing story of Baruch ben Neriah, the faithful secretary of the Prophet Jeremiah, beginning: \u201cThe word which the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch son of Neriah, when he was writing these words in a scroll at Jeremiah\u2019s dictation, in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah\u201d (Jeremiah 45:1). Since King Jehoiakim\u2019s reign began in 609 BCE, this prophecy can be accurately dated to 605 BCE. This takes us back to Jeremiah Chapter 36, when Baruch wrote down the oracles of Jeremiah, which were burnt by King Jehoiakim, requiring Baruch to write these prophecies again, but in expanded form, in another scroll. Now, in our Chapter, Jeremiah\u2019s prophecy concerns Baruch to whom the prophet\u2019s words are directly addressed: \u201cThus said the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning you, Baruch: You say: Woe is me! The Lord has added grief to my pain. I am worn out with groaning, and I have found no rest\u2026And do you expect great things for yourself? Don\u2019t expect them. For I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh\u2014declares the Lord\u2014but I will at least grant you your life in all the places where you may go\u201d (Jeremiah 45:2-5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It seems that Baruch had been complaining that \u201cgreat things\u201d have been denied him personally. Rashi (to Jeremiah 45:3) understands that Baruch is complaining that he himself had never been granted the revelation of the Shekhinah to enable him to prophecy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to Mekhilta de-Rabbi Yishmael to Exodus 12:1 (Pisha 1), Baruch cried out asking God: Why should I be different from all the other disciples of the prophets? Joshua served Moses and the spirit of the Lord settled upon him. Elisha served Eliyahu and the spirit of the Lord settled upon him. Why should I be different? \"I am worn out with groaning, and I have found no rest\u201d (Jeremiah 45:3)\u2026Come and see how the Lord answered him: \u201dI am going to overthrow what I have built, and uproot what I have planted\u2014this applies to the whole land. And do you expect great things for yourself?\u201d (Jeremiah 45:4-5). \"Great things\" refer to prophecy, as it says: \"Tell me, now, of all the great things that Elisha (the prophet) has wrought\u201d (II Kings 8:4) and \"Call Me and I will tell you (Jeremiah the prophet) great things\u201d (Jeremiah 33:3). God said to Baruch the son of Neriah: If there is no vineyard, there is no need for a fence. If there is no flock, there is no need for a shepherd. Why does this apply now? Since Israel will be decimated, but Baruch will live, there is no need for him to be a prophet: \u201cFor I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh (i.e. all Israel) \u2014declares the Lord, but I will at least grant you your life in all the places where you may go\u201d (Jeremiah 45:5). Baruch was not granted the gift of prophecy, but at least he remained alive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Old Scribe, 1822-1831, After Thorvaldsen's sculpture\u00a0 \/ thorvaldsensmuseum.dk<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":72338,"alt":"","title":"jer45-scribe","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","width":542,"height":700,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe-232x300.jpg","medium-width":232,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","medium_large-width":542,"medium_large-height":700,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","large-width":542,"large-height":700,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","1536x1536-width":542,"1536x1536-height":700,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","2048x2048-width":542,"2048x2048-height":700,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","post_full_size-width":542,"post_full_size-height":700,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe-325x420.jpg","home_baner-width":325,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Baruch Ben Neriah \u2013 Always A Secretary, Never A Prophet","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And complaining about it doesn\u2019t help","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":72338,"alt":"","title":"jer45-scribe","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","width":542,"height":700,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe-232x300.jpg","medium-width":232,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","medium_large-width":542,"medium_large-height":700,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","large-width":542,"large-height":700,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","1536x1536-width":542,"1536x1536-height":700,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","2048x2048-width":542,"2048x2048-height":700,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe.jpg","post_full_size-width":542,"post_full_size-height":700,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-scribe-325x420.jpg","home_baner-width":325,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"45","chapter_main_number":"445","date":"20270513","wall_id":"445"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"72352","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"You Too, Baruch: Communal Catastrophe Affects Everyone ","post_title":"You Too, Baruch: Communal Catastrophe Affects Everyone","slug":"you-too-baruch-communal-catastrophe-affects-everyone","old_id":"72352","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":66417,"post_title":"Maor Greene","slug":"maor-greene","old_id":"66417","first_name":"Maor ","last_name":"Greene ","description":"Maor Greene is a rabbinical student and doctoral student in Hebrew Bible at Jewish Theological Seminary. They are writing their dissertation on metaphors of violent speech in Psalms. They currently accompany others on their spiritual journeys through their work as a Jewish spiritual director. They hold degrees from Duke University (BS), Princeton Theological Seminary (M Div), Hebrew University (MA), and JTS (M Phil). ","short_description":"Maor Greene is a rabbinical student and doctoral student in Hebrew Bible at Jewish Theological Seminary.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":66418,"alt":"","title":"maor greene","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","width":240,"height":240,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":240,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","medium_large-width":240,"medium_large-height":240,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","large-width":240,"large-height":240,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","1536x1536-width":240,"1536x1536-height":240,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","2048x2048-width":240,"2048x2048-height":240,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","post_full_size-width":240,"post_full_size-height":240,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","home_baner-width":240,"home_baner-height":240}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"445","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Sound familiar?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Jeremiah 45 opens by referencing the events of Chapter 36. There Jeremiah dictated a scroll containing prophecies of Judah\u2019s destruction to Baruch son of Nuriah, but when Baruch tried to read the scroll in public, it was confiscated by officials and brought before King Jehoiakim. The king found the contents of the scroll so unacceptable that he cut up the scroll and burned it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We do not know the specific contents of the scroll in Chapter 36. However, in Chapter 45, we get a hint. Verse 1 explains: \u201cThe <\/span>word<\/span><\/i> which the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch son of Neriah, when he was writing <\/span>these words<\/span><\/i> in a scroll at Jeremiah\u2019s dictation\u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The wording here is ambiguous. Do the rest of the verses of the chapter (2-5) comprise the entirety of the prophecy that Jeremiah dictated to Baruch? This seems unlikely. Instead, the rest of the contents of the scroll seem to be found in chapters that follow, including Jeremiah\u2019s prophecies against the nations. This raises an important question \u2013 why would these long prophecies foretelling the doom of Judah begin with a personal prophecy regarding Baruch?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The answer to this question may lie in the contents of this prophecy. In verse 4, God says, \u201cI am going to overthrow what I have built, and uproot what I have planted\u2014this applies to the whole land.\u201d The language of destruction echoes that found in Jeremiah 1:10 and throughout the book. However, the emphasis that this destruction applies to the whole land hints at something new.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God continues in verse 5, \u201cAnd do you expect great things for yourself? Don\u2019t expect them. For I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh\u2014declares the LORD\u2014but I will at least grant you your life in all the places where you may go.\u201d Baruch might have thought that because he was working for Jeremiah that he would be spared from the impending destruction. He was wrong. The destruction will affect everyone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

King Jehoiakim\u2019s response of denial is very human, if counterproductive. He hopes that Jeremiah\u2019s prophecies will not be fulfilled, averting disaster for his people. His denial of reality prevents him from taking steps that would have mitigated some of their suffering.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Similarly, Baruch\u2019s initial stance is also very human. While he seems to have accepted that Jeremiah\u2019s prophecies would come true, he still expects that his own personal fate will be different. He doesn\u2019t seem to understand that when communal calamity strikes, it affects everyone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are many communal challenges facing our world today. Although some of these challenges may not appear to affect our lives directly, we should not expect that we can escape their negative effects indefinitely. We may not be able to solve communal problems on our own, but we can mitigate some of the damage. If we work together, we may even avert disaster.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Note: I wrote this reflection Feb 23rd, 2020. In the last month as Covid-19 has spread worldwide, Jeremiah\u2019s warning has become even more pressing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: by Ben Schachter, courtesy of the artist.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":72383,"alt":"","title":"jer45-destruction","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction.jpg","width":1125,"height":775,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction-300x207.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":207,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction-768x529.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":529,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction-1024x705.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":705,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction.jpg","1536x1536-width":1125,"1536x1536-height":775,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction.jpg","2048x2048-width":1125,"2048x2048-height":775,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction.jpg","post_full_size-width":1125,"post_full_size-height":775,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction-610x420.jpg","home_baner-width":610,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"You Too, Baruch: Communal Catastrophe Affects Everyone","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Sound familiar?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":72383,"alt":"","title":"jer45-destruction","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction.jpg","width":1125,"height":775,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction-300x207.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":207,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction-768x529.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":529,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction-1024x705.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":705,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction.jpg","1536x1536-width":1125,"1536x1536-height":775,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction.jpg","2048x2048-width":1125,"2048x2048-height":775,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction.jpg","post_full_size-width":1125,"post_full_size-height":775,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer45-destruction-610x420.jpg","home_baner-width":610,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"45","chapter_main_number":"445","date":"20270513","wall_id":"445"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"118493","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Tanakh Podcast-Jeremiah45","post_title":"The Tanakh Podcast-Jeremiah45","slug":"the-tanakh-podcast-jeremiah45","old_id":"118493","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. His first book \"I Kings - Torn in Two\" was published in 2013. See his website www.alexisrael.org, and his podcasts at https:\/\/elmad.pardes.org\/ and https:\/\/tanachstudy.com\/ \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33693,"alt":"","title":"alex israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","width":1657,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":679,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","large-width":679,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1018,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","2048x2048-width":1357,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-795x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":795,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"445","type_929":"4","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Tanakh Podcast","tile_main_caption":"Jeremiah 45: Who Is Baruch Ben Neriah?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Chapter 45 is a prophecy directed at Baruch ben Neriah, Jeremiah's scribe and assistant. 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He lives in the Southern Hebron Hills with his wife and six children.","short_description":"Avraham Norin teaches in Israel at the Machon Meir and Ora conversion program","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64759,"alt":"","title":"avraham norin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin.jpg","width":1064,"height":1600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-681x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":681,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-681x1024.jpg","large-width":681,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin.jpg","1536x1536-width":1021,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin.jpg","2048x2048-width":1064,"2048x2048-height":1600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-798x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":798,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-279x420.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"445","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Baruch signifies the transition from the People of the Word to the People of the Book\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

We previously (in Jeremiah chapters<\/span> 26<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>32<\/span><\/a>) discussed the relationship between written and oral societies. Now we will examine how this relationship manifests in other books of the Bible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Chapter 45 of Jeremiah begins with a verse contrasting the oral prophecy of Jeremiah and Baruch ben Neriah's written recordings:\u00a0 \"The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke unto Baruch ben Neriah when he wrote these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah\u2026\" The Midrash noticed this contrast when it interprets the topic of this chapter as Baruch's request for prophecy being rejected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In other words, the Midrash explains this chapter of Jeremiah as a watershed between the era of the oral word and the era of the written word.\u00a0 Indeed, while previously we saw that during the First Temple time period writing was used only on special occasions, after the destruction of the First Temple the use of writing became much more prominent.\u00a0 Here are some examples:<\/span><\/p>\r\n