17. Then they asked Baruch, “Tell us, please, how did you write all these words? Was it at his dictation?”
18. Baruch answered them, “He dictated all these words to me, while I wrote them with ink on the scroll.”
19. Then the officials said to Baruch, “Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and let no one know where you are.”
20. So they went into the court to the king, having put the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the secretary, and they reported all the words to the king.
21. Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the secretary. And Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials who stood beside the king.
22. It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the fire pot before him.
23. As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot.
24. Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments.
25. Even when Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.
26. And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the secretary and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them.