Jeremiah 36:4

THE READING OF THE BOOK TO THE PEOPLE

"Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book. And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of Jehovah: therefore go thou and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah in the ears of the people in Jehovah's house upon the fast-day; and also thou shalt read them in the ears of Judah that come out of their cities. It may be that they will present their supplication before Jehovah, and will return everyone from his evil way; for great is the anger and wrath that Jehovah hath pronounced against this people. And Baruch the son of Neriah did all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book, the words of Jehovah in Jehovah's house."

At this point in their history, the apostasy of Israel was complete. God had commanded only one fast day, the Day of Atonement; but the evil rulers of the people had made public fasting to be a political weapon; and the one mentioned here in the month of December was connected in no way with the Day of Atonement which came in the seventh month. "December was the Hebrew month Chisleu that began on the first moon of the ninth month."[9]

For additional comment regarding the many fasts invented by the Jews, after their own devices, and not according to the will of God, See Vol. 4 of my Minor Prophets Series, pp. 99-104.

Keil stated that the fast-day mentioned here was, "In remembrance of that day in the year when Jerusalem was taken for the first time by Nebuchadnezzar ... It was appointed (or allowed) by Jehoiachim for the purpose of rousing popular feeling against the Chaldeans to whom they were subjugated."[10]