The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
Ver. 1. The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch.] It is thought that Jeremiah preached his last when he prophesied in the foregoing chapter the destruction of Pharaohhophra, and together with him of the Jews that were found in Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar. Lapides loquitur. He seemed to them to speaking stones, as the proverb hath it; and therefore they stoned him to death, as Epiphanius and others report. This word that he spoke to Baruch belongeth to Jeremiah 36:32, and should have been annexed unto it in a natural order, as appeareth both by the date and by the matter. Baruch had, with much pains and patience, first written out Jeremiah's prophecies, and then read them to the people, and afterwards to the princes. For this piece of work he expected belike some good piece of preferment, as the apostles also did for their forsaking all and following Christ. Matthew 18:1,4 ; Matthew 19:27,30 ; Matthew 20:21,29 , &c. Thus flesh will show itself in the best, and in many things we offend all. But instead of any such thing, Baruch, together with his master, Jeremiah, was sought for to be slaughtered; and besides, he meets with here a contrary prophecy, whereby, before he is comforted, he is sharply reproved, 1. For a dastardly despondency of mind, because his rising expectation, it seems, was frustrated; 2. For a vain, ambitious self-seeking, which was not hid from God.