Jeremiah 36:16-26

16After they had heard all the words, they turned to each other in fear, then said to Baruch: “We will surely report all these words to the king.”

17They also asked Baruch, saying: “Tell us now, how did you write all these words? At his dictation?”

18Then Baruch answered them: “He pronounced all these words to me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink into the scroll.”

19Then the officials said to Baruch: “Go, hide yourself—you and Jeremiah—and let no one know where you are.”

20Then they went to the king in the courtyard, after they had deposited the megillah in the chamber of the scribe Elishama. They reported all the words in the ears of the king.

21So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the megillah , and he brought it out of the chamber of the scribe Elishama. Jehudi read it in the ears of the king and all the officials who were standing by the king.

22Since it was the ninth month, the king was residing in the winter house, with a fireplace burning before him.

23Now as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, he cut it with the scribe’s knife and tossed it into the fire that was in the fireplace, until the whole megillah was consumed in the fire in the fireplace.

24Yet neither the king, nor any of his servants who heard all these words were afraid, nor tore their clothes.

25Moreover Elnatan, Delaiah and Gemariah entreated the king not to burn the megillah , but he would not listen to them.

26Then the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, along with Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to seize the scribe Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah—but Adonai hid them.