ירמיהו, פרק ל״ו, פסוק ח׳

Fulfilling a prophetic mission requires strict attention not only to the content of the message but also to the exact timing and circumstances of its delivery. Baruch ben Neriah carried out the instruction to read the scroll of prophecies precisely as Jeremiah requested. This careful adherence explains a significant delay in the timeline of events. Jeremiah originally issued the command during the fourth year of King Jehoiakim's reign, yet Baruch did not actually read the scroll until the ninth month of the king's fifth year.

The long wait occurred because Baruch was determined to meet every specific condition Jeremiah had outlined in advance. He needed the perfect opportunity: a declared fast day when a massive crowd would naturally gather at the Temple. Furthermore, he waited for an occasion that would bring together both the residents of Jerusalem and the people traveling from the surrounding cities of Judah [מלבי״ם].

Only when all of these necessary conditions perfectly aligned did Baruch finally proceed to read the scroll. Standing in the Temple, he delivered the words of God to the entire assembled crowd, ensuring the message reached the widest possible audience exactly as intended [ביאור שטיינזלץ].