Chapter 36 reports on efforts to do away with the word of God by burning it. These two chapters tell of attempts to do away with the prophet. Arrested without cause, Jeremiah is held in a dungeon, put in a prison, and then thrown into a miry hole to die. Even so, he is sought out by King Zedekiah, whose city is now under siege, for some favorable word. The pattern of organization in chapters 37–38 parallels that of chapter 36.

Introduction – 36:1-4 – 37:1-2

Story in three movements: three readings, three interviews – 36:5-26 – 37:31—38:14-32

Message to the king – 36:27-31 – 38:14-23

Destiny (scroll, prophet) – 36:32 – 38:24-28

A key word throughout is “burn”; the word’s use in conjunction with Jehoiakim (36:25, 27–29, 32) corresponds to its use in conjunction with N…