This is an amazingly short chapter. Now, of course, chapters divisions were added many years after the original composition of the Bible, so this is an artificial feature. However, we do get a short section on Baruch.
Let's just review what we have been told about Baruch. He worked as a friend and secretary to Jeremiah. In Jer 32:12-16 he took charge of the deed Jeremiah had for the land he bought, making sure that the documents were sealed and kept safe.
In Jer 36 we read of him writing down on a scroll all the words that Jeremiah dictated to him (36:4). He then read the words out in the temple (36:8). He then later read it to the officials (36:13-16), who warned him and Jeremiah to go and hide (36:17-19). After the king had destroyed the original scroll, Baruch wrote it out again (36:32).
In Jer 43:3 Baruch seems to be blamed as the one who was manipulating Jeremiah.
Now in this chapter we see that Baruch is feeling rather sorry for himself, and understandably so. He also seems to have had a desire for personal greatness. He is warned by God not to seek great things for himself. We should simply obey the Lord. If this involves being elevated to great positions so be it, if it means living in obscurity, so be it. Jeremiah and Baruch had been dragged down to Egypt. Now all the words Jeremiah was getting seemed to involve destruction. God assures Baruch that he would always escape with his life.
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