When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,
When Michaiah {H4321} the son {H1121} of Gemariah {H1587}, the son {H1121} of Shaphan {H8227}, had heard {H8085} out of the book {H5612} all the words {H1697} of the LORD {H3068},
When Mikhay'hu the son of G'maryahu, the son of Shafan, had heard from the scroll all the words of ADONAI,
When Micaiah son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the LORD from the scroll,
And when Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of Jehovah,
-
2 Kings 22:12
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, -
2 Kings 22:14
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. -
2 Kings 25:22
¶ And [as for] the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler. -
2 Chronicles 34:20
And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, -
Jeremiah 36:10
Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house, in the ears of all the people.
Jeremiah 36:11 introduces a crucial character, Michaiah, whose immediate and positive response to the prophet Jeremiah's message stands in stark contrast to the defiance exhibited by King Jehoiakim later in the chapter. This verse highlights the profound impact of hearing God's authoritative word.
Context
This verse is situated during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, a period characterized by widespread spiritual apostasy and political maneuvering. The prophet Jeremiah, divinely forbidden from entering the temple, dictated all of God's messages of impending judgment and a call to repentance to his faithful scribe, Baruch the son of Neriah. Baruch was then instructed to read this scroll publicly in the temple courts on a fast day, hoping the people would hear and turn from their wicked ways.
Michaiah, whose full lineage is given as Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, belonged to a family with a significant history of involvement with God's word and the royal court. His grandfather, Shaphan, was the respected royal scribe who played a pivotal role in the discovery and reading of the Book of the Law during the reign of King Josiah (2 Kings 22:8). Michaiah's father, Gemariah, was also a prince and a scribe, whose chamber in the temple was the very place where Baruch read the scroll. Michaiah's swift action upon hearing the prophetic message underscores the gravity of the divine warning delivered through Jeremiah.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase translated as "out of the book" is מִן־הַסֵּפֶר (min-hassepher), which literally means "from the scroll" or "from the document." The term sepher (סֵפֶר) is a common Hebrew word for "book" or "scroll," and in this context, it specifically refers to the written collection of Jeremiah's prophecies. The emphasis here is on the tangible, written form of the revelation, which allowed for its preservation and public reading.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 36:11 offers timeless lessons on how individuals should engage with God's word in any era. Michaiah's example encourages us:
Michaiah's actions serve as a positive model of discernment and responsiveness in a time of spiritual decline, urging believers to be receptive and proactive in their engagement with the living and active word of God.