ירמיהו, פרק ל״ו, פסוק י״ט

Upon hearing the contents of the written scroll, the royal officials immediately recognize the grave danger looming over its authors and take swift action to protect them. They urge both the prophet and his scribe to go into hiding, fearing that King Jehoiakim will react with fury to the sensitive message and attempt to harm or even execute them. As for where they should seek refuge, one approach suggests they hide within the courtyard of the guard [רד״ק].

The warning to hide is directed at both Baruch and Jeremiah due to their shared risk. If Baruch had merely copied the prophet's words as a private record, Jeremiah might not have been considered guilty by the king. However, because Baruch openly stated that he was acting on Jeremiah's official mission, both men bear joint responsibility for the scroll and face the exact same threat of punishment [מלבי״ם]. This event reveals a striking historical reality of the era: while King Jehoiakim was wicked and actively sought the prophet's death, his royal officials were righteous individuals who took active steps to save him [מלבי״ם].

To guarantee their safety, the officials demand absolute secrecy. They insist that no one should know of their whereabouts, fearing that an informant might reveal their location to the king, leaving them completely unprotected [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Therefore, every detail regarding where they are currently hiding must remain entirely concealed from the public [מצודת ציון].