- published: 18 Oct 2010
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Baruch ben Neriah (Hebrew: ברוך בן נריה Bārūḵ ben Nêrîyāh "Blessed, son of My Candle is God") (c. 6th century BC) was the scribe, disciple, secretary, and devoted friend of the Biblical prophet Jeremiah.
According to Josephus, Baruch was a Jewish aristocrat, a son of Neriah and brother of Seraiah ben Neriah, chamberlain of King Zedekiah of Judah.
Baruch became the scribe of the prophet Jeremiah and wrote down the first and second editions of his prophecies as they were dictated to him. Baruch remained true to the teachings and ideals of the great prophet, although like his master he was at times almost overwhelmed with despondency. While Jeremiah was in hiding to avoid the wrath of King Jehoakim, he commanded Baruch to read his prophecies of warning to the people gathered in the Temple in Jerusalem on a day of fasting. The task was both difficult and dangerous, but Baruch performed it without flinching and it was probably on this occasion that the prophet gave him the personal message.
Neriah ("Lord is my Lamp") is the son of Mahseiah, as well as the father of Baruch and Seraiah ben Neriah, mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah of the Hebrew Bible. He is mentioned in Jeremiah 32:12 and 51:59.
The Talmud lists him and his sons Seraiah ben Neriah and Baruch as prophets
In 1975, a clay bulla purportedly containing Baruch's seal and name appeared on the antiquities market. Its purchaser, a prominent Israeli collector, permitted Israeli archaeologist Nahman Avigad to publish the bulla. Although its source is not definitively known, it has been identified as coming from the "burnt house" excavated by Yigal Shiloh. The bulla is now in the Israel Museum. It measures 17 by 16 mm, and is stamped with an oval seal, 13 by 11 mm. The inscription, written in the ancient Hebrew alphabet, reads:
In 1996, a second clay bulla emerged with an identical inscription; presumably stamped with the same seal. This bulla also was imprinted with a fingerprint;Hershel Shanks, among others, speculated that the fingerprint might be that of Baruch himself; the authenticity of these bullae however has been disputed.ibid.