Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll
The officials leave the scroll stored with Elishama and report to the king, who summons it to be read in the winter house while a fire burns before him. As Jehudi reads a few columns at a time, the king cuts them off and throws them into the fire until the entire scroll is consumed; neither the king nor his servants tear their garments in fear, and though Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah plead with him not to burn it, he instead orders Baruch and Jeremiah seized, but the LORD hides them.
S20o the officials went to the king in the courtyard. And having stored the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, they reported everything to the king. 21Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing beside him. 22Since it was the ninth month, the king was sitting in his winter quarters with a fire burning before him. 23And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire. 24Yet in hearing all these words, the king and his servants did not become frightened or tear their garments. 25Even though Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. 26Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, as well as Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them.
Verse 20The officials deposit the scroll in Elishama's chamber and report all the words to the king.
This verse prepares the scroll's appearance before royal authority.
Verse 21The king sends Jehudi to fetch the scroll, and he reads it before the king and the officials standing nearby.
This verse places the written word directly before Jehoiakim.
Verse 22It is the ninth month, and the king is sitting in the winter house with a fire burning in the brazier.
This verse sets the intimate scene in which the scroll will be destroyed.
Verse 23Whenever Jehudi reads three or four columns, the king cuts them off with a scribe's knife and throws them into the fire until the whole scroll is burned.
This verse enacts Jehoiakim's progressive rejection of God's word.
Verse 24Neither the king nor his servants are afraid or tear their garments when they hear the words.
This verse exposes the spiritual hardness behind the act.
Verse 25Even though Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urge the king not to burn the scroll, he refuses to listen.
This verse shows that the king's contempt persists against explicit warning.
Verse 26The king commands the arrest of Baruch and Jeremiah, but the LORD hides them.
This verse shows the king's rebellion turning against the messengers as well as the message.
A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.
- vv. 20-26
The officials leave the scroll stored with Elishama and report to the king, who summons it to be read in the winter house while a fire burns before him. As Jehudi reads a few columns at a time, the king cuts them off and throws them into the fire until the entire scroll is consumed; neither the king nor his servants tear their garments in fear, and though Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah plead with him not to burn it, he instead orders Baruch and Jeremiah seized, but the LORD hides them.
This paragraph presents the king's response as active contempt that only intensifies his guilt.