Baruch (Nehemiah 10:6)

Neriah’s son, Baruch. He was the secretary of the prophet Jeremiah. In the fourth year of King Jehoiakim of Judah, Baruch wrote down Jeremiah’s prophecy about the evil that God would bring upon Judah if the nation did not repent (Jeremiah 36:4). This happened sometime between 605 and 604 BC. God also gave Baruch a special message through Jeremiah about being humble in service (Jeremiah 45).

Baruch read Jeremiah’s prophecy to the people and the leaders (Jeremiah 36:9–19). When King Jehoiakim heard the message, he destroyed the scroll and ordered the arrest of Baruch and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 21–26). While in hiding, Baruch again wrote down Jeremiah’s prediction of Judah’s destruction (Jeremiah 27–32). Baruch was the brother of Seraiah, a close associate of King Zedekiah. Later, Nebuchadnezzar took Seraiah to Babylon with the king. In 587 BC, Nebuchadnezzar surrounded the city to attack it (this happened a year before the final destruction of Jerusalem). Jeremiah bought a field to symbolize Israel's future restoration. He ordered Baruch to keep the purchase documents safe (Jeremiah 32:12–15).