ירמיהו, פרק ל״ו, פסוק ט״ז

The sudden exposure to Jeremiah's prophecies strikes deep terror into the hearts of the royal officials. Having paid little attention to his messages in the past, they are now confronted with harsh and frightening warnings they have never truly heard before [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This intense fear quickly shifts from the content of the prophecies to the political danger of their situation. A deep suspicion takes hold among the officials, causing them to fear one another. Each worries that a peer might rush to inform the king about the scroll. If that happens, anyone who remained silent would be found guilty of hiding vital information, which would surely provoke the king's anger [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

Driven by this anxiety, the officials realize they have no choice but to bring the matter to the crown. They explain to Baruch that they are compelled to report these events to the leadership and cannot possibly keep the message a secret [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. However, this decision is not entirely rooted in fear. Another perspective suggests that the officials also carry a sense of hope. They believe that if the king hears these severe warnings firsthand, he might finally pay attention and take the message to heart [רש״י].