9 Now in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah , king of Judah , in the ninth month , all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the Lord . 10 Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe , in the upper court , at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord'S house , to all the people . 11 Now when Micaiah the son of Gemariah , the son of Shaphan , had heard all the words of the Lord from the book , 12 he went down to the king's house , into the scribe's chamber . And behold , all the officials were sitting there - Elishama the scribe , and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah , and Elnathan the son of Achbor , and Gemariah the son of Shaphan , and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah , and all the other officials . 13 Micaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read from the book to the people . 14 Then all the officials sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah , the son of Shelemiah , the son of Cushi , to Baruch , saying , "Take in your hand the scroll from which you have read to the people and come ." So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and went to them. 15 They said to him, "Sit down , please , and read it to us." So Baruch read it to them. 16 When they had heard all the words , they turned in fear one to another and said to Baruch , "We will surely report all these words to the king ." 17 And they asked Baruch , saying , "Tell us, please , how did you write all these words ? Was it at his dictation ?" 18 Then Baruch said to them, "He dictated e e all these words to me, and I wrote them with ink on the book ." 19 Then the officials said to Baruch , "Go , hide yourself, you and Jeremiah , and do not let anyone know where you are."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 36:9-19
Commentary on Jeremiah 36:9-19
(Read Jeremiah 36:9-19)
Shows of piety and devotion may be found even among those, who, though they keep up forms of godliness, are strangers and enemies to the power of it. The princes patiently attended the reading of the whole book. They were in great fear. But even those who are convinced to the truth and importance of what they hear, and are disposed to favour those who preach it, often have difficulties and reserves about their safety, interest, or preferment, so that they do not act according to their convictions, and try to get rid of what they find troublesome.