Jeremiah 36:2 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Take thee a roll of a book Compare Isaiah 8:1; Ezekiel 2:9; Zechariah 5:1. The ancient manner of writing was upon long scrolls of parchment, which they afterward rolled upon sticks. On these words it is remarked by Harmer, (vol. 4. chap. 7, obs. 122,) “Many things were rolled up, much in the shape of an ancient Jewish manuscript, which yet were not fit to write upon; the words then in this, and some other similar cases, may be understood to mean, Take thee a roll, or volume, fit to be made a book of, fit to be written on.” And write therein all the words that I have spoken against Israel and Judah Jeremiah prophesied against Israel as well as against Judah, Jeremiah 2:4; Jeremiah 3:12; Jeremiah 3:14; Jeremiah 23:13; Jeremiah 32:30. The kingdom of Israel was indeed destroyed by Shalmaneser, before the time of Jeremiah; but yet the prophet was ordered to reprove their sins, both to make the justice of God appear in punishing them so severely, and withal to warn the Jews by their example. Besides, there were some remains of these tribes still left, who joined themselves to the tribe of Judah. And against all the nations See Jeremiah 25:15-16. From the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah Namely, all the revelations which he had had from God for twenty-two years last past; for he began to prophesy in the thirteenth year of Josiah, who reigned thirty- one years, so that he prophesied eighteen years during Josiah's life, and this was the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, his successor. God would have his prophecies recorded, that there might be a memorial of them, that so the truth of them might appear when God should bring them to pass; the time of which now drew near.