Baruch
One of the minor prophets
A faithful disciple and secretary to the prophet Jeremiah in the 6th century BC, Baruch recorded the prophecies and shared in the persecutions of his master in Jerusalem, Babylon, and Egypt. Author of the biblical book that bears his name, he is famous for having announced the Incarnation of the Son of God.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
BARUCH, ONE OF THE MINOR PROPHETS
Origins and vocation with Jeremiah
Baruch, from an illustrious family of the tribe of Judah, became the faithful disciple and secretary of the prophet Jeremiah, writing down his prophecies.
(6th century BC).
Baruch, whom the historian Josephus says was from an illustrious family of the tribe of Judah and perfectly instructed in the Hebrew language, was the son of Neriah, grandson of Mahseiah, and brother of Seraiah, one of the great men of the court of Zedekiah, king of Judah (597-587). He generously renounced the advantages he could have hoped for in the world to fol low Jer Jérémie Prophet honored on the same day as Isaac in the Egyptian and Ethiopian traditions. emiah and become the companion of all his labors and all his perils. He became the most significant and the most faithful of his disciples and even served as his secretary; for this Prophet, having received an order from the Lord to put into writing the prophecies he had published up until the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah (608-597), Baruch wrote them down, and, having taken them to the temple, he read them to the great men and the people who had gathered there. His attachment to Jeremiah brought him many persecutions, but the Lord knew him and strengthened him more and more in the resolve he had conceived to never abandon his master.
Missions to Babylon and exiles
Sent on a mission to Babylon, Baruch returns to Jerusalem before being imprisoned with Jeremiah, then following him to Egypt before ending his days in Babylon.
In the fourth year of the reign of Zedekiah (593), Baruch was sent to Babylon with his brother Seraiah; he was entrusted with a letter from Jere miah, w Jérémie Prophet honored on the same day as Isaac in the Egyptian and Ethiopian traditions. ith orders to cast it into the Euphrates after having read it to the Jews taken into captivity in Babylon during the previous reigns. Baruch faithfully fulfilled his mission; he then returned to Jerusalem , charged Jérusalem Holy city where the Cross was lost and subsequently recovered. by the captives to deliver a sum of money and a letter of friendship to the Jews of that city. Upon his return to the holy city, Baruch maintained the same attachment to Jeremiah as before. When this city was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar (583), Je remiah having Nabuchodonosor King of Babylon who besieged Jerusalem. been put in prison, Baruch was locked up there with him. Finally, this Prophet having been forced to withdraw to Egypt, a few years Égypte The place where the legendary meeting between Dismas and the Holy Family takes place. after the ruin of Jerusalem (587), Baruch accompanied him there and did not abandon him until he had rendered him the final duties. He then returned to Babylon where it is believed he ended his days.
Composition and Canonicity of the Book of Baruch
The Book of Baruch, written in exile, is recognized as canonical by the Church despite the loss of its original Hebrew text and its exclusion from the Jewish canon.
The Book of Baruch Le livre de Baruch Prophetic book of the Old Testament written by Baruch. , divided into six chapters, follows immediately after the Lamentations of Jeremiah in our Bibles; it was written by Baruch himself in Babylon, during his stay in that city, and after the ruin of Jerusalem and the temple. The frequent Hebraisms encountered in this book prove that it was written in Hebrew or Chaldean; but the original text no longer exists: it was lost by the time of Saint Jerome, and this F ather assure saint Jérôme Father of the Church and biographical source for Amand. s us that the Jews did not admit it into their canon, which did not prevent the Church from regarding it as canonical. It has sometimes been attributed to Jeremiah, because in the past the writings of these two Prophets were contained in the same volume, and because Baruch included in his book not only the prophecies that the Lord had inspired in him, but also those he had heard from his master Jeremiah, and which he had not committed to writing during his lifetime.
Prophecy of the Incarnation and representations
The work contains a clear announcement of the Incarnation, often represented in Christian art by a scroll held by the prophet.
In addition to the excellent instructions with which the book of Baruch is filled, it contains a very clear predict ion of the incarnation of t incarnation du fils de Dieu Central mystery of Bérullian theology. he Son of God, through these words from chapter III, verse 38: "He was seen upon earth, and conversed with men." It is this text that one reads, in representations of the Prophet, on the scroll that he unrolls with his hand.
Historical Sources
References to the works of Dailliet and Dom Cellier on ecclesiastical authors and the saints of the Old Testament.
Dailliet: Life of the Saints of the Old Testament; Dom Cellier, History of Ancient and Ecclesiastical Authors.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Secretary and disciple of the prophet Jeremiah
- Reading of the prophecies at the Temple of Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoiakim
- Mission to Babylon to deliver a letter from Jeremiah to the captives
- Imprisonment in Jerusalem with Jeremiah during the siege by Nebuchadnezzar
- Exile in Egypt with Jeremiah
- Return and end of life in Babylon
Quotes
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He was seen on earth and lived among men
Book of Baruch, chapter III, verse 38