Baruch (Sixth century b.c.e.) religious scribe and prophet

The Bible portrays “Baruch, son of Neriah” as the companion

and secretary to Jeremiah, the famous prophet

at the time of the Babylonian deportation of Judah (587

b.c.e.). His dedicated service to Jeremiah brought him

into the same ignominy and hardship as his master,

though most likely he was born an aristocrat and received

the benefi t of education. He compiled two scrolls

of prophecies, one for the king of Judah, which was

burned later, and the other for the possession of Jeremiah.

This latter scroll may be the core of the biblical

book of Jeremiah. Baruch’s role as Jeremiah’s scribe

may be why he is cited as author in several sequels to

the book of Jeremiah. When Jeremiah was forced to

fl ee from Jerusalem to Egypt (582 b.c.e.) in the aftermath

of the Babylonian invasion, Baruch accompanied

him. This is the last mentioned abode for Baruch in the

Hebrew Bible, though Jeremiah elsewhere in his book

promises that Baruch would survive the general turmoil

but live the life of a refugee.

According to Christian biblical scholar Jerome, Baruch

shared the fate of Jeremiah, who presumably died

in Egypt. Later Jewish sources disagree. Rabbinic authorities

assume that Baruch went to Babylon. It is here

that the deuterocanonical book of Baruch (accepted by

Catholic and Orthodox Christians) locates him. This

book consists of several distinct parts and is probably

an assortment of writings intended to encourage the

scattered people of Israel in the centuries following the

Babylonian invasion. An even later book called Second

Baruch or the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch (parts of which

are accepted by the Syriac Christians) shows the scribe

speaking, praying, and writing mainly in the environs

of Jerusalem just as the Babylonians are on the verge of

conquering Jerusalem.

In this text Baruch overshadows his master. He commands

Jeremiah to depart and encourage the exiles in

Babylon. Afterward the stage is empty except for Baruch,

who dominates the rest of the book with his visions,

prayers, and instructions. The focus of Baruch’s

ministry in Jerusalem is the training of the surviving elders,

but he increasingly addresses larger audiences, fi rst

the remaining residents of the city and then the people

scattered in the Diaspora. The latter group he reaches

through a letter that concludes the book.

The tradition of Baruch survived outside the rabbinic

Jewish tradition. Spurious books (parts of books)

attributed to Baruch have appeared in many languages,

including Latin, Greek, Syriac, Hebrew, and Arabic.

Other names for Baruch in Hebrew are Berechiah and

Barachel. His name has been found on a clay seal impression,

or bulla, reading, “[belonging] to Berechiah,

son of Neriah, the scribe,” a relatively rare reference

to a biblical person from a contemporary non-biblical

source.