CHAP. XXXVI.
HEre Jeremiah is bidden in the fourth year of Iehojakim to write his Prophe∣cies against Israel and Judah and other Kingdoms in a Book. And he calleth * 1.1 Barnch his Scribe unto him, commanding him to write them, and then to go to the House of the Lord upon the Fast day, and to read them before all Judah; * 1.2 because he was shut up and could not go. Here divers doubts occur. 1. What is meant by Jeremiah his being shut up, because he was not put in prison by Je∣hojakim, but by Zedekiah who reigned after him, Chap. 32. 3. And the words of the Princes here following, verse 19. Go and bide thee, both thou and Jeremi∣ab, evince, that Ieremiah was now at liberty to go to some secret place, and not in prison. It is there most commonly held, that his shutting up here spoken of, was nothing else but the Lord restraining him by the Spirit, so that he could not not go. 2. What Fast day is meant, when he biddeth him read it upon the Fast day, when all Judah should be come together to Jerusalem; because that after this, verse 9, 10. a Fast is proclaimed in the fifth year of Iehojakim, in the ninth moneth, and Baruch readeth it then? It is apparent, that there is here a Meta∣thesis, or transposition of things; that which was done first being placed last; for the Fast was first proclaimed in the time whilst Baruch was writing, or so soon as he had done, although he began in the fourth year of Iehojakim, and this Proclamation came out the fifth year; for it might be at the latter end of the fourth year that he begen to write, and the Proclamation made at the beginning of the fifth, although not to take place till the ninth moneth thereof, that in all parts they might have time to prepare to come to Jerusalem And before Ieho∣jakim, fifth year, he had been terrified by falling into the hands of Nebuchad∣nezzar, viz. the third of his reigne, Dan. 1. 1. Therefore having by some com∣position obtained his Kingdome again, it is most probable, that sor fear of suffering again by the Caldees, he proclaimed this Fast, although a most wicked King, placing confidence in an outward observance without turning by repen∣tance from his sins. Wherefore the Prophet takes the opportunity of the day, for the publishing of his Prophecies, as thinking, that the people would now if ever be wrought upon to turn; and now Barueh should be sure to have a great multitude resorting thither from all parts to read it to them, to the better effect. 3. Another doubt here is about the time of writing, in the fourth year of Iehoja∣kim; in which year Nebuchadnezzar is said to have come against him, being the first year of his reigne; and yet Daniel 1. 1. it is said in the third year of Iehoja∣kim that he was carried to Babylon: But of this see before Chap. 25. 1. Ano∣ther doubt is, How the Prophecies of Ieremiah, from the ninth year of Iosiah his reigne could be still to write, whenas Chapter 30. 1. he was bidden to write them in a Book before? But although that goeth before, yet it appeareth Chap. 29. that it was after, because Iehojakim was first carried away Captive, who reigned after Iehojakim; and it was not a Prophecie of threatning, which he was then commanded to write, but of a most gracious promise of bringing them out of Captivity and unspeakable blessing in Christ to be bestowed upon them. 5. Because Baruch writeth, and then goeth and readeth in the publick place, that the people might be converted; whether one mans reading of another mans