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Process
Activity 3: Know Your
Prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures
Group 8: Your Books of the
Prophets are Lamentations, Nahum, Baruch
Complete the tasks for Baruch.
3 Baruch
Use the following information and the
listed resources to complete your tasks.
Baruch -
His Profile
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| Images: |
His Name Means |
"blessed" |
| |
Appears |
Jeremiah,
Baruch |
 |
Biographical |
Son
of Neriah, was the devoted disciple to Jeremiah. He witnessed the deed of transfer of a
piece of land bought by Jeremiah from his cousin Hanamel. Some time later, Jeremiah sent
for Baruch and dictated a scroll containing his discourses and oracles from the beginning
of his ministry. Since Jeremiah had been banned from the Temple area, he sent Baruch to
read out the scroll to the crowd of worshippers at the Temple on a special fast day, in
the hope that the grim prophecies in it would cause the hearers to repent. Baruch was then
summoned to the palace to read the book again before a meeting of officials. Disturbed at
its contents, they said to Baruch, 'Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and let no one know
where you are' (Jeremiah 36:19). When the enraged king, who had the scroll burnt as it was
read to him, ordered their arrest, they were not to be found. At the Lord's command,
Jeremiah dictated the scroll over again to Baruch, with additions. Jerusalem fell in 587
BC and two months later Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the Babylonians, was
assassinated. The group of officers loyal to Gedaliah failed to capture the murderer and
fearing the Babylonian anger, fled to Egypt, taking Jeremiah and Baruch with them. Nothing
more is known of Baruch's life in Egypt, though it is probable that he remained with his
beloved master Jeremiah. (Comay & Brownrigg, 1980, 65) |
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The
Book |
The
book of Baruch is in both the Roman Catholic canon and the Protestant Apocrypha; it
purports to have been composed by Jeremiah's disciple in 582 BC, five years after the fall
of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. However, the book was written much later and indeed seems
to reflect the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE. Early verses describe the historical setting,
around the time of Jeremiah, to whom Baruch was secretary. |
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Key
Themes/
Messages |
Wisdom's
importance (Baruch 3:9-14) |
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Key
Content |
Chapters
1:15 - 3:8 describe the people's sin in a prayer addressed to God. A prayer to Wisdom
follows (Baruch 3:9 - 4:4). The book concludes with verses to console and encourage those
in exile (Baruch 4:5-5:9) |
Sources:
Bowker, J. 1998, The Complete Bible Handbook - An Illustrated Companion,Dorling
Kindersley, UK
Brown, R.E., Fitzmyer, J.A.,and Murphy, R.E., 1992. The New Jerome Bible
Handbook, Geoffrey Chapman, England
Comay, J., and, Brownrigg, R., 1980. Who's Who in the Old Testament,
Bonanza Books, NY
Drane, J.(ed), 1998, The Lion Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Bible,
Lion Publishing, England
Motyer, S. 1998. Who's Who in the Bible - An Illustrated Guide,
Dorling Kindersley, UK
Resources
Catholic Encyclopedia - Baruch - difficult reading
Bible Study - Baruch
Bible Basics - Baruch (scroll down to Baruch on the left hand side)
Jewish Encyclopedia - Baruch,
Apocalypse of (Greek) (extension)
When you have finished
Baruch, go to Process
Introduction|Task|Process|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|Teachers
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