20. The officials put the scroll in the room of Elishama, the court secretary, and went to the king's court, where they reported everything to the king.
21. Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. He took it from the room of Elishama and read it to the king and all the officials who were standing round him.
22. It was winter and the king was sitting in his winter palace in front of the fire.
23. As soon as Jehudi finished reading three or four columns, the king cut them off with a small knife and threw them into the fire. He kept doing this until the entire scroll was burnt up.
24. But neither the king nor any of his officials who heard all this was afraid or showed any sign of sorrow.
25. Although Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, he paid no attention to them.
26. Then he ordered Prince Jerahmeel, together with Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to arrest me and my secretary Baruch. But the Lord had hidden us.