Chapter 36

1And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:   אוַֽיְהִי֙ בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הָֽרְבִיעִ֔ת לִיהֽוֹיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה הָיָ֞ה הַדָּבָ֚ר הַזֶּה֙ אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ מֵאֵ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר:
2Take for yourself a roll of a book and write upon it all the words that I have spoken to you concerning Israel, concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations, since the day that I spoke to you from the days of Josiah until this day.   בקַח־לְךָ֘ מְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר֒ וְכָֽתַבְתָּ֣ אֵלֶ֗יהָ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֞ים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֧רְתִּי אֵלֶ֛יךָ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל וְעַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וְעַל־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם מִיּ֞וֹם דִּבַּ֚רְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ מִימֵ֣י יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֔הוּ וְעַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה:
3Perhaps the house of Judah will hear all the evil that I plan to do to them, in order that they should repent, each man of his evil way, and I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.   גאוּלַ֚י יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה אֵת כָּל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָֽנֹכִ֥י חֹשֵׁ֖ב לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָהֶ֑ם לְמַ֣עַן יָשׁ֗וּבוּ אִישׁ מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ הָרָעָ֔ה וְסָֽלַחְתִּ֥י לַֽעֲו‍ֹנָ֖ם וּלְחַטָּאתָֽם:
4And Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote from Jeremiah's mouth all the words of the Lord that He had spoken to him, on a roll of a book.   דוַיִּקְרָ֣א יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ אֶת־בָּר֖וּךְ בֶּן־נֵֽרִיָּ֑ה וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב בָּר֜וּךְ מִפִּ֣י יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ אֵ֣ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלָ֖יו עַל־מְגִלַּת־סֵֽפֶר:
5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying: I am imprisoned; I cannot enter the House of the Lord.   הוַיְצַוֶּ֣ה יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ אֶת־בָּר֖וּךְ לֵאמֹ֑ר אֲנִ֣י עָצ֔וּר לֹ֣א אוּכַ֔ל לָב֖וֹא בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה:
imprisoned in the jail.   עצור  בבית הכלא:
6And you shall come and read in the roll that you have written from my mouth, the words of the Lord, in the ears of the people in the House of the Lord on a fastday, and also in the ears of all of Judah who come from their cities, you shall read them.   ווּבָאתָ֣ אַתָּ֡ה וְקָרָ֣אתָ בַמְּגִלָּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־כָּתַֽבְתָּ־מִפִּי֩ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֜ה בְּאָזְנֵ֥י הָעָ֛ם בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּי֣וֹם צ֑וֹם וְגַ֨ם בְּאָזְנֵ֧י כָל־יְהוּדָ֛ה הַבָּאִ֥ים מֵעָֽרֵיהֶ֖ם תִּקְרָאֵֽם:
7Perhaps their supplication shall fall before the Lord, and they shall repent, each man of his evil way, for great is the anger and the wrath that the Lord spoke concerning this people.   זאוּלַ֞י תִּפֹּ֚ל תְּחִנָּתָם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וְיָשֻׁ֕בוּ אִ֖ישׁ מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ הָֽרָעָ֑ה כִּֽי־גָד֚וֹל הָאַף֙ וְהַֽחֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה:
8And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet had commanded him, to read in the book the words of the Lord in the House of the Lord.   חוַיַּ֗עַשׂ בָּרוּךְ֙ בֶּן־נֵ֣רִיָּ֔ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֖הוּ יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֑יא לִקְרֹ֥א בַסֵּ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה:
9And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the Lord, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people coming from the cities of Judah [who were] in Jerusalem.   טוַיְהִ֣י בַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַֽ֠חֲמִשִׁית לִיהֽוֹיָקִ֨ים בֶּן־יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֚הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁעִ֔י קָֽרְא֨וּ צ֜וֹם לִפְנֵ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה כָּל־הָעָ֖ם בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְכָל־הָעָ֗ם הַבָּאִ֛ים מֵֽעָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָֽם:
10And Baruch read in the book the words of Jeremiah in the House of Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entrance of the new gate of the House of the Lord, in the ears of all the people.   יוַיִּקְרָ֨א בָר֥וּךְ בַּסֵּ֛פֶר אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה בְּלִשְׁכַּ֡ת גְּמַרְיָהוּ֩ בֶן־שָׁפָ֨ן הַסֹּפֵ֜ר בֶּֽחָצֵ֣ר הָעֶלְי֗וֹן פֶּ֣תַח שַׁ֚עַר בֵּֽית־יְהֹוָה֙ הֶֽחָדָ֔שׁ בְּאָזְנֵ֖י כָּל־הָעָֽם:
the new gate That is the Eastern Gate; so did Jonathan translate.   פתח שער בית ה' החדש  הוא שער המזרחי כן תירגם יונתן:
11And Micaiah the son of Gemariah the son of Shaphan heard all the words of the Lord from upon the book.   יאוַ֠יִּשְׁמַ֠ע מִכָ֨יְהוּ בֶן־גְּמַרְיָ֧הוּ בֶן־שָׁפָ֛ן אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל הַסֵּֽפֶר:
12And he went down to the house of the king to the chamber of the scribe, and behold there all the officers were sitting; 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 officers.   יבוַיֵּ֚רֶד בֵּית־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ עַל־לִשְׁכַּ֣ת הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְהִ֨נֵּה־שָׁ֔ם כָּל־הַשָּׂרִ֖ים יֽוֹשְׁבִ֑ים אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֣ע הַסֹּפֵ֡ר וּדְלָיָ֣הוּ בֶן־שְׁ֠מַעְיָ֠הוּ וְאֶלְנָתָ֨ן בֶּן־עַכְבּ֜וֹר וּגְמַרְיָ֧הוּ בֶן־שָׁפָ֛ן וְצִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ בֶן־חֲנַנְיָ֖הוּ וְכָל־הַשָּׂרִֽים:
13And Micaiah told them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.   יגוַיַּגֵּ֚ד לָהֶם֙ מִכָ֔יְהוּ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁמֵ֑עַ בִּקְרֹ֥א בָר֛וּךְ בַּסֵּ֖פֶר בְּאָזְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם:
14And all the officers sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah the son of Shelemiah the son of Cushi to Baruch, saying, "The roll that you read in the ears of the people-take it in your hand and go," and Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand and came to them.   ידוַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּ כָל־הַשָּׂרִ֜ים אֶל־בָּר֗וּךְ אֶת־יְהוּדִ֡י בֶּן־נְ֠תַנְיָהוּ בֶּן־שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֣הוּ בֶן־כּוּשִׁי֘ לֵאמֹר֒ הַמְּגִלָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָרָ֚אתָ בָּהּ֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם קָחֶ֥נָּה בְיָֽדְךָ֖ וָלֵ֑ךְ וַ֠יִּקַּח בָּר֨וּךְ בֶּן־נֵרִיָּ֚הוּ אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֖א אֲלֵיהֶֽם:
15And they said to him, "Sit down now and read it in our ears," and Baruch read in their ears.   טווַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו שֵׁ֣ב נָ֔א וּקְרָאֶ֖נָּה בְּאָזְנֵ֑ינוּ וַיִּקְרָ֥א בָר֖וּךְ בְּאָזְנֵיהֶֽם:
16And it came to pass when they heard all the words, they feared each man his friend, and they said to Baruch, "We will surely tell the king these words."   טזוַיְהִ֗י כְּשָׁמְעָם֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים פָּֽחֲד֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־בָּר֔וּךְ הַגֵּ֚יד נַגִּיד֙ לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה:
“We will surely tell the king” Perhaps he will hear.   הגיד נגיד למלך  אולי ישמע:
17And they asked Baruch, saying, "Tell us now how you wrote all these words from his mouth."   יזוְאֶ֨ת־בָּר֔וּךְ שָֽׁאֲל֖וּ לֵאמֹ֑ר הַגֶּד־נָ֣א לָ֔נוּ אֵ֗יךְ כָּתַ֛בְתָּ אֶת־כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה מִפִּֽיו:
18And Baruch said to them, "From his mouth he would pronounce all these words to me, and I would write in the book with ink."   יחוַיֹּ֚אמֶר לָהֶם֙ בָּר֔וּךְ מִפִּיו֙ יִקְרָ֣א אֵלַ֔י אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַֽאֲנִ֛י כֹּתֵ֥ב עַל־הַסֵּ֖פֶר בַּדְּיֽוֹ:
19And the officers said to Baruch, "Go hide, you and Jeremiah, and let no man know where you are."   יטוַיֹּֽאמְר֚וּ הַשָּׂרִים֙ אֶל־בָּר֔וּךְ לֵ֥ךְ הִסָּתֵ֖ר אַתָּ֣ה וְיִרְמְיָ֑הוּ וְאִ֥ישׁ אַל־יֵדַ֖ע אֵיפֹ֥ה אַתֶּֽם:
20And they came to the king, to the court, and the roll they deposited in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and they told in the king's ears all the words.   כוַיָּב֚וֹאוּ אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ חָצֵ֔רָה וְאֶת־הַמְּגִלָּ֣ה הִפְקִ֔דוּ בְּלִשְׁכַּ֖ת אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֣ע הַסֹּפֵ֑ר וַיַּגִּ֙ידוּ֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֖ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִֽים:
to the court Heb. חצרה, equivalent to אל החצר. Every word that requires a ‘lammed’ in the beginning Scripture placed a ‘heh’ at its end.   חצרה  אל החצר כל תיבה שצריכה למ"ד בתחלתה הטיל לה ה"א בסופה:
21And the king sent Jehudi to take the roll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and Jehudi read it in the king's ears and in the ears of all the officers standing over the king.   כאוַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־יְהוּדִ֗י לָקַ֙חַת֙ אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּ֔ה וַיִּ֨קָּחֶ֔הָ מִלִּשְׁכַּ֖ת אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֣ע הַסֹּפֵ֑ר וַיִּקְרָאֶ֚הָ יְהוּדִי֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּבְאָזְנֵי֙ כָּל־הַשָּׂרִ֔ים הָעֹֽמְדִ֖ים מֵעַ֥ל הַמֶּֽלֶךְ:
22Now the king was sitting in the winter-house in the ninth month, and the brazier was burning before him.   כבוְהַמֶּ֗לֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב֙ בֵּ֣ית הַחֹ֔רֶף בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁיעִ֑י וְאֶת־הָאָ֖ח לְפָנָ֥יו מְבֹעָֽרֶת:
and the brazier Heb. האח. Our Rabbis (Shabbath 21a) defined it as wood, called so because they burn with brotherhood. (That is to say that they are ignited one from the other, like brothers, who benefit each other. Omitted in other editions.) And according to its simple meaning, it appears that it is a vessel upon which they kindle fire before the princes.   ואת האח  פירשו רבותינו עצים על שם שנדלקים באחוה (כלומר שנדלקים זה מזה כאחים ש (שמהנים זה לזה סא"א) ולפי פשוטו משמע שהוא כלי שמבערין עליו אור לפני השרים:
23And it came to pass, when Jehudi read three or four verses, he rent it with a scribe's razor, and cast [it] onto the fire which was on the brazier until the entire roll was consumed on the fire that was on the brazier.   כגוַיְהִ֣י | כִּקְר֣וֹא יְהוּדִ֗י שָׁל֣שׁ דְּלָתוֹת֘ וְאַרְבָּעָה֒ יִקְרָעֶ֙הָ֙ בְּתַ֣עַר הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְהַשְׁלֵ֕ךְ אֶל־הָאֵ֖שׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶל־הָאָ֑ח עַד־תֹּם֙ כָּל־הַמְּגִלָּ֔ה עַל־הָאֵ֖שׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־הָאָֽח:
three… verses Our Rabbis (Moed Katan 26a) stated. This was the Scroll of Lamentations. They read before him, (1:1) “How…(:2) She weeps… (ibid. 3) Judah has been exiled…(ibid. 4) The roads of Zion are mournful.” Despite all this, he was not troubled. He said, “I am the king over the survivors.” As soon as he read (ibid. 5), Her adversaries have become the head, “ he said,” From now on, I am [no longer] the king." Immediately, he rent it with a scribe’s razor.   שלש דלתות  רבותינו אמרו מגלת קינות היתה קראו לפניו איכה בכה תבכה גלתה יהודה דרכי ציון אבילות בכל זה לא חש אמר אני מלך על הנותרים כיון שקרא היו צריה לראש אמר מעכשיו איני מלך מיד ויקרעה בתער הסופר:
he rent Heb. יקרעה, like קְרָעָה.   יקרעה  כמו קרעה:
24And the king and all his servants who heard all these words were neither frightened nor did they rend their garments.   כדוְלֹ֣א פָֽחֲד֔וּ וְלֹ֥א קָֽרְע֖וּ אֶת־בִּגְדֵיהֶ֑ם הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְכָל־עֲבָדָ֔יו הַשֹּׁ֣מְעִ֔ים אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה:
25And also Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had entreated the king not to burn the roll, but he heeded them not.   כהוְגַם֩ אֶלְנָתָ֨ן וּדְלָיָ֚הוּ וּגְמַרְיָ֙הוּ֙ הִפְגִּ֣עוּ בַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְבִלְתִּ֥י שְׂרֹ֖ף אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּ֑ה וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵיהֶֽם:
entreated Heb. הפגעו, supplicated.   הפגיעו  התחננו:
26And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the son of Abdiel to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord concealed them.   כווַיְצַוֶּ֣ה הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ אֶת־יְרַחְמְאֵ֨ל בֶּן־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וְאֶת־שְׂרָיָ֣הוּ בֶן־עַזְרִיאֵ֗ל וְאֶת־שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־עַבְדְּאֵ֔ל לָקַ֙חַת֙ אֶת־בָּר֣וּךְ הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְאֵ֖ת יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֑יא וַיַּסְתִּרֵ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה:
27And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after the king had burnt the roll and the words that Baruch had written from Jeremiah's mouth, saying:   כזוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ אַֽחֲרֵ֣י | שְׂרֹ֣ף הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּה֙ וְאֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר כָּתַ֥ב בָּר֛וּךְ מִפִּ֥י יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר:
28Take for yourself again another roll and write upon it all the original words that were on the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah, burned.   כחשׁ֥וּב קַח־לְךָ֖ מְגִלָּ֣ה אַחֶ֑רֶת וּכְתֹ֣ב עָלֶ֗יהָ אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָי֗וּ עַל־הַמְּגִלָּה֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂרַ֖ף יְהֽוֹיָקִ֥ים מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָֽה:
29And concerning Jehoiakim the king of Judah you shall say, So said the Lord: You have burnt this roll, saying: Why have you written upon it, saying, "The king of Babylon shall surely come and destroy this land and cause man and beast to cease from it"?   כטוְעַל־יְהֽוֹיָקִ֚ים מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ תֹּאמַ֔ר כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה אַ֠תָּה שָׂרַ֜פְתָּ אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּ֚ה הַזֹּאת֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַדּוּעַ֩ כָּתַ֨בְתָּ עָלֶ֜יהָ לֵאמֹ֗ר בֹּֽא־יָב֚וֹא מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֙ וְהִשְׁחִית֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וְהִשְׁבִּ֥ית מִמֶּ֖נָּה אָדָ֥ם וּבְהֵמָֽה:
30Therefore, so said the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the king of Judah; He shall have no one sitting on the throne of David, and his corpse shall be cast to the heat by day and to the frost at night.   ללָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה עַל־יְהֽוֹיָקִים֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה לֹא־יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֥וֹ יוֹשֵׁ֖ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א דָוִ֑ד וְנִבְלָתוֹ֙ תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה מֻשְׁלֶ֔כֶת לַחֹ֥רֶב בַּיּ֖וֹם וְלַקֶּ֥רַח בַּלָּֽיְלָה:
31And I will visit upon him and upon his seed and upon his servants [the punishment for] their iniquity, and I will bring upon them and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and upon the men of Judah all the evil that I spoke to them and [which] they did not heed.   לאוּפָֽקַדְתִּ֨י עָלָ֧יו וְעַל־זַרְע֛וֹ וְעַל־עֲבָדָ֖יו אֶת־עֲו‍ֹנָ֑ם וְהֵֽבֵאתִ֣י עֲ֠לֵיהֶם וְעַל־יֹֽשְׁבֵ֨י יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֜ם וְאֶל־אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֗ה אֵ֧ת כָּל־הָֽרָעָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א שָׁמֵֽעוּ:
32And Jeremiah took another roll and gave it to Baruch the son of Neriah the scribe, and he wrote on it from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book that Jehoiakim the king of Judah burnt with fire, and there were yet added to them many words like those.   לבוְיִרְמְיָ֜הוּ לָקַ֣ח | מְגִלָּ֣ה אַחֶ֗רֶת וַיִּתְּנָהּ֘ אֶל־בָּר֣וּךְ בֶּן־נֵֽרִיָּהוּ֘ הַסֹּפֵר֒ וַיִּכְתֹּ֚ב עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ מִפִּ֣י יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ אֵת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֣י הַסֵּ֔פֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂרַ֛ף יְהֽוֹיָקִ֥ים מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה בָּאֵ֑שׁ וְע֨וֹד נוֹסַ֧ף עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם דְּבָרִ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים כָּהֵֽמָּה:
many words like those At first, there were three alphabetical acrostics: (Lam. ch. 1) “O how… remained,” (2) “How… brought darkness,” (4) “How dim… has become.” And he added to it, (3) “I am the man,” in which every letter is tripled.   דברים רבים כהמה  מתחלה היו שלש אלפא ביתין איכה ישבה איכה יעיב איכה יועם והוסיף עליה אני הגבר שכל אות משולשת בה: