Baruch

Baruch, son of Neriah, served as Jeremiah's scribe and faithfully recorded and delivered his prophecies.

Baruch, son of Neriah, was the faithful scribe and companion of the prophet Jeremiah. He played a significant role in recording and delivering Jeremiah's prophecies to the people of Judah. In Jeremiah 36, Baruch wrote down Jeremiah's words on a scroll and read them in the temple, as the prophet was restricted from going there himself. When King Jehoiakim destroyed the scroll, Baruch rewrote the prophecies with additional messages from Jeremiah. Baruch also served as a witness to Jeremiah's purchase of a field, symbolizing God's promise of future restoration (Jer 32:12-16). He accompanied Jeremiah to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem, despite the prophet's warnings (Jer 43:3-6). In Jeremiah 45, God spoke directly to Baruch, reassuring him of divine protection amidst the impending judgment on Judah. Baruch's unwavering support for Jeremiah, even in the face of opposition and personal risk, demonstrates his commitment to God's message and his loyalty to the prophet.

The secretary of the prophet Jeremiah (32:12; 36:4). He was of the tribe of Judah (51:59). To him Jeremiah dictated his prophecies regarding the invasion of the Babylonians and the Captivity. These he read to the people from a window in the temple in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah (Jer. 36). He afterwards read them before the counsellors of the king at a private interview; and then to the king himself, who, after hearing a part of the roll, cut it with a penknife, and threw it into the fire of his winter parlour, where he was sitting.

During the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, he was the keeper of the deed of purchase Jeremiah had made of the territory of Hanameel (Jer. 32:12). Being accused by his enemies of favouring the Chaldeans, he was cast, with Jeremiah, into prison, where he remained till the capture of Jerusalem (B.C. 586). He probably died in Babylon.