AnagignoskomenaHistory

Baruch

5Chapters

140Verses

0Notes

0Reflections

Book Introduction

Baruch presents itself as the words of Jeremiah's scribe among the Babylonian exiles: a liturgy of confession sent home to Jerusalem, a poem in which wisdom is found nowhere among the nations but given to Israel in the Torah, and a rising consolation in which mourning Zion is told to look east and watch her children come home. Its sixth chapter, the Letter of Jeremiah, is a sustained satire on idols. Catholics and Orthodox receive Baruch as deuterocanonical Scripture; Protestants place it among the Apocrypha. Its movement from penitence to hope made it a natural exile prayer book.

Author

Attributed to Baruch son of Neriah, Jeremiah's scribe; actual author unknown

Date

Likely 2nd century BC, from earlier materials

Audience

Jews of the exile and diaspora reflecting on national sin and hope

Purpose

To lead the exiled people through honest confession to renewed hope in God's wisdom, mercy, and promised homecoming.

Key Themes

Confession of national sinWisdom given in the TorahZion consoledPromised return from exileEmptiness of idols

Book Outline

1The exiles' assembly, offering, and letter to Jerusalem

2Confession continued: covenant curses and appeal to mercy

3Prayer of the afflicted; the poem on wisdom's hiddenness

4Wisdom is the Torah; Zion laments and is consoled

5Jerusalem robed in glory watches her children return

6The Letter of Jeremiah against Babylon's idols

Key Verses

Baruch 1:15Righteousness belongs to the Lord, but open shame to us.Baruch 3:37Wisdom appeared on earth and lived among men—read Christologically by the Fathers.Baruch 4:4Happy are we, O Israel, for we know what is pleasing to God.Baruch 4:36Look toward the east, O Jerusalem, and see the joy coming to you.Baruch 5:1Take off the garment of sorrow; put on the beauty of God's glory.

ALL CHAPTERS5 chapters