The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief quartermaster.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 59. With. Hebrew also, ( Calmet.) “on behalf of.” Prot. marg. Bible.—It is no where else asserted that Sedecias went in person, and Septuagint Chal. and so forth explain it in this manner. Baruch accompanied his brother Sararias, and probably took the letter. Baruch 1:2. Saraias went to petition for the sacred vessels.—Prophecy, or of the embassy to speak ( Calmet.) in the king’s name. Hebrew menucha, was a caution of Benjamin. It means, “rest;” whence some have inferred that he was chamberlain, (Song of Songs 3:8) or a favourite. Most translate, “chief of the presents,” Septuagint and Chal. as if they they had read mincha, which he carried as a tribute to Babylon. Jeremias gave him charge of the parcel, perhaps before Baruch had determined to go.