Educate with Punishment

[1] She is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endures forever.

All who hold her fast will live, and those who forsake her will die.  [2] Turn, O Jacob, and take her; walk toward the shining of her light.  [3] Do not give your glory to another, or your advantages to an alien people.  [4] Happy are we, O Israel, for we know what is pleasing to God.

Do not give your glory to another: the glory of Israel is the Torah or the testament.

Here Baruch is writing the orders of God, that will give life to those who hold tide in it, and also ask the people of Jacob to repent and please God.  Compare (Baruch 4:1) with (Det 4:8) 8 and what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law, which I set before you this day?

Walk toward the shining of her light: here Baruch is warning the people to of Israel to repent and return, and walk in the light “testament and the testament is wisdom” (Baruch 4:2).  “Yourword is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (psalms 118:105).  For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light;( proverbs 6: 23). 

Compare (Baruch 4:2) with (Det 4: 1) "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORDGod of your fathers is giving you”.

Turn, O Jacob: out of God’s love to Jacob and his descendants and out of His care for them He orders them to repent, but does not force them to repent because man is free willed and is not predestinate, and the heaven rejoice in the repentance of one sinner.

[5] Take courage, my people, and O memorial of Israel! [6] It was not for destruction

That you were sold to the nations, but you were handed over to your enemies

Because you angered God.  [7] For you provoked him who made you, by sacrificing to demons and not to God.  [8] You forgot the everlasting God, who brought you up,

and you grieved Jerusalem, who reared you.  [9] For she saw the wrath that came upon you from God, and she said: "Hearken, you neighbors of Zion, God has brought great sorrow upon me;

you were sold to the nations: it means you were under the exile and slavery as a punishment. 

By sacrificing to demons: meaning you offered to idols.

Here Baruch explains to the people who is in exile, why they are being punished, their exile was a punishment to them for leaving God, and worshiped idols (demons), that is why God left them to be exiled for punishment, as instead of offering to God they offered to demons, and they offered human sacrifices from their own sons and daughters.  (Baruch 4: 7).

15 " But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; you grew fat, you grew thick, you are obese!

Then he forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

16 They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign Gods; with abominations they provoked Him to anger.17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to Gods they did not know,

To new Gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear.18 Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, and have forgotten the God who fathered you.  (Deut 32:15-18).

They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, (psalms 106:37).

20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.  (1 Cor 10:20).

[10] For I have seen the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting brought upon them.  [11] With joy I nurtured them, but I sent them away with weeping and sorrow.  [12] Let no one rejoice over me, a widow and bereaved of many;

I was left desolate because of the sins of my children, because they turned away from the law of God.  [13] They had no regard for his statutes; they did not walk in the ways of God's commandments, nor tread the paths of discipline in his righteousness.

[14] Let the neighbors of Zion come; remember the capture of my sons and daughters,

which the Everlasting brought upon them.  [15] For he brought against them a nation from afar, a shameless nation, of a strange language, who had no respect for an old man, and had no pity for a child.  [16] They led away the widow's beloved sons,

and bereaved the lonely woman of her daughters.

49 The LORDwill bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as

swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young.  51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you.  52 "They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the LORDyour God has given you.  (Deut 28:49-52).  This shows that the verse was taken from Deuteronomy and that Jeremiah the prophet was talking about Babylon.

Here Jerusalem is directing its talk to its neighbors from the other cities, and nations, to explain to them that God was the one who allowed for exile because of the deed of its nation, and by them not abiding in the Lord’s commandments, and warn them that if they do not repent, they will receive the same punishment, and it describe Babylon as a nation with no mercy even with the elderly and the children, and here he mentioned the elderly and the children to show how this nation had no humanity, for children need compassion in their treatment, and help and compassion to the elderly, but this nation had no mercy or compassion.  

Compare (baruch 4:9-16).  With ( lam 1:17-22 ).

[17] "But I, how can I help you? [18] For he who brought these calamities upon you

will deliver you from the hand of your enemies.  [19] Go, my children, go;

for I have been left desolate.  [20] I have taken off the robe of peace and put on the sackcloth of my supplication; I will cry to the Everlasting all my days.  [21] "Take courage, my children, cry to God and he will deliver you from the power and hand of the enemy.  [22] For I have put my hope in the Everlasting to save you, and joy has come to me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which soon will come to you from your everlasting Savior.

Robe of peace: it is the dress of lamentation and supplication.

Desolate: vacant and sad.

Here Jerusalem is directing its talk to the people in exile, and says that I can not help, for God can only help, and can only help if you repent and here it explain “go my children go” which is a message for them to walk in the ways of repentance, and the repetition is an indicator to them for repentance and supplication and wearing sack cloth, which are all signs of repentance and seeking God’s forgiveness and help, and all of that makes God send His mercy to them.

Was could also notice the doctrine of the Holy trinity (I put my hope in the everlasting)= God the Father the eternal, (and the mercy which soon will come to you from the everlasting savior)= means the Son the word, and savior of the entire world. 

[23] For I sent you out with sorrow and weeping, but God will give you back to me with joy and gladness for ever .[24] For as the neighbors of Zion have now seen your

capture, so they soon will see your salvation by God, which will come to you with great glory and with the splendor of the Everlasting.  [25] My children, endure with patience the wrath that has come upon you from God.  Your enemy has overtaken you,

but you will soon see their destruction and will tread upon their necks.  [26] My tender sons have traveled rough roads; they were taken away like a flock carried off by the enemy.

 [27] "Take courage, my children, and cry to God, for you will be remembered by him who brought this upon you.  [28] For just as you purposed to go astray from God, return with tenfold zeal to seek him.  [29] For he who brought these calamities upon you will bring you everlasting joy with your salvation."

A Map showing Jerusalem and its neighbors

Zion: A Hebrew name, which means a castle and most likely is referring to Jerusalem in its entirety.

Tread upon their necks:  means you rein over them when they bought them as slaves. 

24 So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, "Come near,

put your feet on the necks of these kings." And they drew near and put their feet on their necks.  (Joshua 10:24).

Then Jerusalem continue its tale with the exiled people and explain to them its feelings when it farewell crying that the Lord will restore them in great Joy, and eternal joy, and now as its neighbor saw her crying at the exile for the salvation of the Lord, they will also see her in Joy in the return.  Here also Jerusalem is encouraging it’s children and asks them to be patient and prophecy for them that the enemy that captivated them will perish soon.  (Baruch 4:25).

This prophecy was fulfilled in no time, for the kingdoms of Mady and Persia appeared there after and conquered Babylon, and gave the freedom to those who were in exile and from among them where the Jews.  The people of Mady used to sell the captivated to buy them as salves and remember to be strong in faith, as the Lord will remember them, and you have to repent, and remember how the Lord have left you and this exile was for your punishment to know that when you left the Lord you lost everything, but the one who is firm in the Lord will have everlasting Joy and salvation.

Reference: (Baruch 4:23).

12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, Streaming to the goodness of the LORD-- For wheat and new wine and oil, For the young of the flock and the herd;

Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all.

13 " Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together;

For I will turn there mourning to joy, Will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow.  (Jeremiah 31:12-13).

[31] Wretched will be those who afflicted you and rejoiced at your fall.  [32] Wretched will be the cities which your children served as slaves; wretched will be the city which received your sons.  [33] For just as she rejoiced at your fall and was glad for your ruin, so she will be grieved at her own desolation.  [34] And I will take away her pride in her great population, and her insolence will be turned to grief.  [35] For fire will come upon her from the Everlasting for many days, and for a long time she will be inhabited by demons. 

Wretched will be the city which received your son: it is an inclination to the people of Babylon and all the cities of Babylon, but the author means the kings of Solocian that have persecuted the people of Israel.  Here Baruch directs his words to Jerusalem encouraging them saying be assured Jerusalem for the one who named you and made you His own city will save you.

 A picture for the hills of Babylon “Wretched will be the city which received your son”.

God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.  (Ps 46:5).

14 Also the sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you, and all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you The City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.  (Isaiah 60:14).

The prophets of the old testament they used to glorify the city of Jerusalem not because it was a political city or the administrative capital and not because of its great history and its great building, but because of the temple of the Lord that is in its midst.  They were in sorrow because they were away from the temple and He says to Jerusalem wow to all who mock you for if they do not repent they drink from the same cup.  Wretched will be the city which receive your children, and we knew what happened to Babylon  (Baruch 4:25).  He prophecy what will happen to Babylon, for the city will be burned and destroyed and the devils will occupy it forever, and this is what happened as the Babylonian worshiped idols and the devils who dwelled in them.

The Babylonian Gods:

1 Enlil, it was the God Nippur and it was the greatest God in the old ages and it was the God of Babylon

2 Anu: the meaning of its name is heaven and it became the God of heaven.

3 Ea: the reading of the name of this God is still indefinite, as it is more likely to be read as Aos in Greek as it meant the father of the God Marduk.

4 Shamash: it is the God of sun.

5 Ishtar: it is the God of love and fertility.

6 Marduk: it is mentioned in the Old Testament and it is the God of the city of Babylon.

7 Nabu : it is the God of the city of Borsippa it is a celestial God and his name means the speaker.

[36] Look toward the east, O Jerusalem, and see the joy that is coming to you from God! [37] Behold, your sons are coming, whom you sent away; they are coming, gathered from east and west, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.

Baruch the prophet asks form Jerusalem to look towards the east and here there are two prophecies, one for the salvation that will come from the east and it is the Lord Christ that was born in one of the cities of the east and rose from the east and will come from the east, and the second prophecy is about its children that will come back to its bosom from the east and the west by the order of the Lord rejoicing in His Glory.

Compare: (Baruch 4:37).

+ Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; (Isaiah 43:5).

+4 " Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you;

Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side.

5 Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy;

Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.  6 The multitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense,

And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.  7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall ascend with acceptance on My altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory.   " Who are these who fly like a cloud, And like doves to their roosts? 9 Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me; And the ships of Tarshish will come first, To bring your sons from afar, Their silver and their gold with them, To the name of the LORDyour God, and to the Holy One of Israel, Because He has glorified you.  (Isaiah 60:4-9).

Chapter Five

Salvation

[1] Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.  [2] Put on the robe of the righteousness from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting.  [3] For God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven.  [4] For your name will for ever be called by God,” Peace of righteousness and glory of Godliness."

Baruch the prophet asks from Jerusalem to take off the sad cloth and humiliation and instead to put on glory, honor, and righteousness, and to put on its head the crown of the Glory of God.      For God will revile your glory to all who are under heaven, and your name that God call you with is forever the peace of righteousness and the glory of worship.

+Refer to the names of Jerusalem “26 I will restore your judges as at the first,

And your counselors as at the beginning.  Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city."(Isaiah 1:26).” “Also the sons of those who afflicted you

Shall come bowing to you, and all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the

Soles of your feet; and they shall call you The City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 60:14).  “16 In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely.  And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 33:16).  “All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.” (Ezekiel 48:35).

Compare (Baruch 5:1,2) with:

+ Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments,

O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come to you.  (Isaiah 52:1).

+3 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.  "And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.6 But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, they shall call you the servants of our God.

You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast.7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.  Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs.8 " For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant.9 Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people.  All who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the posterity whom the LORDhas blessed."10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  (Isaiah 61:3-10).

+ “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelations 21:2).

[5] Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height and look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them.  [6] For they went forth from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne.  [7] For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God.  [8] The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God's command.  [9] For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.

[9] For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.  (Baruch 5:9).

St Baruch the prophet requests Jerusalem to quickly rise up and stand on a high place and to look around and see how the Lord have ordered to gather her children from the east and the west to gather in Joy as they left it in bare foot under captivity, but will return in the honor of kings and the Lord will make way through the hills and mountains and fill the valley and clear the way on the ground; all that because He cares for His children to make it safely; not only that but He will overshadow them with the trees of fragrance and they will come in Joy, Happiness, and  glory.  This is the price of repentance and being with God.  (The one who is faithful to the end will be saved). 

This happens in our daily life for we will meet hard days, from persecution, war and struggle against the world and its desires and against the devil and his armies and also sometimes internal fight from within the family and from within the Church, and sometimes from the world as they will mock us when we say we are going to Church or we are fasting, but the one who is faithful to the end will be saved.  All that is not equal to a second of being in the presence of the Lord in heaven to be with the angels and the saints and this was the equation which our fathers the saints have fully understood.  For the body will definitely will perish one day, but when it perish in the way of salvation and spreading God’s word then that is a great gain.

These verses declare the prophecy of Baruch the prophet that prophecy that the children of Jerusalem will defiantly come back to it in no time, and this return is not in their own power or strength, but it is the word of God that never comes back empty.  They will come from the east and the west indicating that they will come from far places and from all the corners of the earth.

Carried in glory, as on a royal throne: this is the new exodus.  3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness:" Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert

A highway for our God.  4 Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; (Isaiah 40:3,4).

Chapter six

The Letter of Jeremiah

The letter of Jeremiah is a small book, and it was addressed to those who were ready to go to exile.

A Picture for Jeremiah the prophet crying.

The time in which the letter was written

It is more likely to be written in thee second century before the birth of Christ.  It was sent to the people of Judah in the capital of Solocian in Antioch.  These people were facing persecution because of their faith and worship, so the letter came with a vigorous attack on the false Gods and idols.

The writer of the letter had the subject in correlation with what came in the books of Jeremiah and the book of Isaiah, and presented it in a colorful sarcastic manner.

The main subject of the letter was the idols that were not able to talk, move or watch.  Since   these idols were not able to defend itself against the time, steeling and destruction, how can it protect those who seek its refuge? So depart from the worship of these idols for there are not God and seek the only capable and powerful God.

A copy of a letter that Jeremiah sent to those who were to be taken to Babylon as exiles by the king of the Babylon as exiles by  the king of the Babylonians, to give them the message that God had commanded him.

1 because of the sins that you have committed before God, you will be taken to Babylon as exiles by Nebuchadnezzar, king  of Babylonians therefore when you have come to Babylon you will remain there for many years, for a long time up to seven generations, after that I will bring you away from there in peace.

Jeremiah: it is a Hebrew name, which means the Lord sets a foundation.

Seventh generation: it is believed that the generation is a period of forty years.

Jeremiah the prophet explains to the people the reason for their exile and that was because of their sins and they remain in exile for over 280 years and after that they will return safely.  This exile was for the edification and the forgiveness and humility and the return to God.

2 Now in Babylon you will see Gods made of silver and gold and wood, which cause the heathen to fear.  So beware of becoming at all like the foreigners or of letting fear for these Gods possess you when you see the multitude before and behind them worshiping them.  But you say in your heart " it is you, O' Lord, whom we must worship.  For my angel is with you and he is watching over your lives.  Their tongues are smoothed by the carpenter, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and silver, but they are false and cannot speak.

We see here that saint Baruch the prophet was warning the people from what they about to see from the idols and the Gods that are made of hands, and how these idols put fear in the inhabitants of these nations, so they are warned not to be like them, but on the contrary when they see that they should give glory honor and worship to the true God the God of Israel.  He describe these Gods as God s with tongues made by the craftsmen and it can not talk, and even though it might be covered by gold and silver but inside it there is wood or stone,

He asks for you: he pleads for your souls.

People take gold and make crowns for the heads of their Gods, as they might for a girl who loves ornaments, and make crowns for the heads of their Gods.  Sometimes the priests secretly take gold and silver from their Gods and spend it on themselves, or even give some of it to the prostitutes on the terrace.

The Babylonian were looking after their Gods as the lady decorate herself and they make the crowns from gold but the priests they used to steel these crowns and gold and spent it on their own and they were an example for leadership to the people???

They deck their Gods out with garments like human beings these Gods of silver and gold and wood that cannot save themselves from rust and corrosion.  When they have been dressed in purple robes, their faces are wiped because of the dust from the temple, which is thick upon them.  One of them holds a scepter, like a district judge, but is unable to destroy anyone who offends it.  Another has a dagger in its right hand, and an ax, but cannot defend itself from war and robbers.  From this it is evident that they are not Gods; so do not fear them.

Purple: is a dye that was a specialty for the Phoenician industry.  it is a dye that is extracted from seashells, in Latin it is called miorix tronicolis, the seashells are broken and from them is extracted a fluid like substance, which is refined to bring about a blue liquid that turns to purple or red as it gets oxidized.  This dye was used in coloring cloth and especially expensive cloths.

Those priests took the money from selling the crowns that belonged to the Gods and spent it on decorations and this is due to the weakness of these Gods, for they are dressed like humans but they rust and decay though being painted in gold and silver, those Gods can not even wipe their faces if dust came upon them, it can not defend itself if anyone trespassed against them, though they carry swords, and axes in their hands!!!

After all that Baruch the prophet ends his talk about them that they cannot truly be called Gods.

For just as someone's dish is useless when it is broken, so are their Gods when they have been set up in the temples.  Their eyes are full of the dust raised by the feet of those who enter.  And just as the gates are shut on every side against anyone who has offended a king, as though under sentence of death, so the priests make their temples secure with doors and locks and bars, in order that they may not be plundered by robbers.

Baruch here tells the people not to fear them for they are useless and fearless, for they are like broken pots that benefits no one.   For when they put them in the houses their eyes get filled with dust proving that their eyes can not see, and their priests cover them and hide them in cabinets and behind doors so robbers cannot steal as if they are sentenced to life long imprisonment proving even more that these are not Gods.

They light more lamps for them than they light for themselves, though their Gods can see none of them.  They are just like a beam of the temple, but their hearts, it is said are eaten away when crawling creatures from the earth devour them and their robes.  They do not notice, when their faces have been blackened by the smoke of the temple.  Bats swallow and birds alight on their bodies and heads, and so do cats.  From this you will know that they are not Gods; so do not fear them.

Baruch continue to talk about these Gods and say: they light lamps but these Gods have no eyes to see, for even the bats and cats eat from their bodies and they stand defenseless and senseless.  Smoke blackens their faces and they don’t wipe them clean, birds and bats fly on top of their heads they are with no response.  Can we call them Gods after all that??  And fear them?

As for the gold that they wear for beauty it will not shine unless someone wipes off the tarnish, for even when they were being cast, they did not feel it.  They are bought without regard to cost, but there is no breath in them.  Having no feet, they are carried on the shoulders of others, reveling to humankind their worthlessness.  And those who serve them are put to shame because if any of these Gods' falls to the ground they themselves must pick it up.  If anyone sets it upright it cannot move itself; and if it is tipped over it cannot straighten itself.  Gifts are placed before them just as before the dead.

Them just as before the dead: compare it with (Isaiah 46:7)"7 they bear it on the shoulder, they carry it and set it in its place, and it stands; from its place it shall not move.  Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer nor save him out of his trouble."

Baruch continue his talk about these Gods and how useless they are as someone has to wipe it to make it shine, it has no legs but rather carried on shoulders, how can that be a God if it can not move unless someone carry it around.  For even those who worship it mock it and say if it fall it will break, and if it fall but still in one piece it can not rise on its own!!!

The priests sell the sacrifices that are offered to these Gods and use the money themselves.  Likewise their wives preserve some of the meat with salt, but give none to the poor or helpless.  Sacrifices to them may even be touched by women in their periods or at childbirth, since you know by these things that they are not Gods, do not fear them.  For how can they be called Gods? Women serve meals for Gods of silver and gold and wood and their clothes torn, their heads and beards shaved and their heads uncovered.  They howl and shout before their Gods as some do at funeral banquet.  The priests take some of the clothing of their Gods to clothe their wives and children.

They howl and shout before their Gods as some do at funeral banquet:  Symbolises the worship that celebrate death and resurrection of Gods.

The priests take all the offerings to sell for their own personal benefit, and the poor and helpless see nothing from what has been offered, and even women in periods and childbirth touches the offering and this did not befit the law of Moses.

Here Baruch the prophet asks a question.....  Why do we call it Gods?

He answers and says: is it because it has priests that sit with torn cloths and have shaved their heads and shout as if in funeral.  Or is because the priests steel the clothes to their children and wives?

The women at periods and childbirth are impure, for the person become impure if he ate from forbidden food (Leviticus 11), or touched a dead (Numbers 19:11-22), or idols (Acts 10:1, 11:18)

Or gave birth to a child: "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: "If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean."(Leviticus 12:2).

Or been infected with leprosy: "The priest shall examine the sore on the skin of the body; and if the hair on the sore has turned white, and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous sore.  Then the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean."(Leviticus 13:3).

In those conditions it is not allowed to partake of the rituals of worships till purified.  (Leviticus 12:6-8).  6 "When the days of her purification are fulfilled, whether for

A son or a daughter, she shall bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting.  7 Then he shall offer it before the LORD, and make

Atonement for her.  And she shall be clean from the flow of her blood.  This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female.  8 "And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons--one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering.  So the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'"

(Leviticus 14:1-32).

Verse 29= touched by women: among the people of Israel priesthood was kept for men only and not women.

Verse 30= and in their temples the priests sit with their clothes torn, their heads and beards shaved, and their heads uncovered.  These were the signs of lamination among the people of Israel.  Compare to:

"You are the children of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead.  (Deu 14:1).

+And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons, "Do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the people.  But let your brethren, the whole house of Israel; bewail the burning which the LORD has kindled.  (Lev 10:6).

20 "They shall neither shave their heads, nor let their hair grow long, but they shall keep their hair well trimmed.  (Ezk 44:20).

³⁴Whether one does evil to them or good, they will not be able to repay it.  They cannot set up a king or depose one.  ³⁵Likewise they are not able to give either wealth or money; if one makes a vow to them and does not keep it, they will not require it.  ³⁶They cannot save anyone from death or rescue the weak from the strong.  ³⁷They cannot restore sight to the blind; they cannot rescue one who is in distress.  ³⁸They cannot take pity on a widow or do good to an orphan.  ³⁹These things that are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver are like stones from the mountain, and those who serve them will be put to shame.  ⁴⁰Why then must anyone think that they are Gods, or call them Gods?

Baruch continues his talk about these Gods showing how weak they are, as it can not appoint a king or save any from death, or heal a blind or relief those in trouble, can not help a widow or an orphan, for it is made of wood and stone and those who worship it are put to shame, and then he ask after all this can it be called or counted as a God.

This was opposite to the God of Israel who used to appoint and uphold kings: Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: "Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over His inheritance? (1 Sam 10:1).

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.  So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.  (1 Sam 16:13).

8 Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.  15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.  (2 Sam 7:8, 15).

Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.  (2 Sam 12:7).

"Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held--

To subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut (Isaiah 45:1).

 ³⁸They cannot take pity on a widow or do good to an orphan.  : compare to "6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.  7 O God, when You went out before Your people,

When You marched through the wilderness, (Ps 68:6, 7).

.  ⁴⁰Why then must anyone think that they are Gods, or call them Gods?  Besides, even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them; for when they see someone who cannot speak, they bring Bel and pray that the mute may speak, as though Bel^k were able to understand! ⁴¹Yet they themselves cannot perceive this and abandon them, for they have no sense.  ⁴²And the women, with cords around them, sit along the passageways, burning bran for incense.  ⁴³When one of them is led off by one of the passers-by and is taken to bed by him, she derides the woman next to her, because she was not as attractive as herself and her cord was not broken.  ⁴⁴Whatever is done for these idols^l is false.  Why then must anyone think that they are Gods, or call them Gods?

He then shows the treatment of the Chaldeans to these Gods, as they ask from these Gods to heal the mute, but it can achieve nothing and he liken them to senseless, and feeling less, for if they did feel they would have known that these are stones that can not hear or heal.  He also explains the mischief in the worship for false Gods, so can it be counted or named as Gods?

Chaldeans = or Babylonian refer to " "Thus says the LORDGod of Israel: "Behold, I

will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the walls; and I will

assemble them in the midst of this city.  (Jeremiah 21:4).

Bel =  the master or king: it is the title for the God of Babylon refer:" " Declare among the nations, Proclaim, and set up a standard; Proclaim--do not conceal it-- Say, "Babylon is taken, Bel is shamed.  Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are humiliated, her images are broken in pieces.'(Jeremiah50:2).

with cords around them =  it is an old tradition in the holy prostitution as raising incense with bran is a magical way of arousing desires.

45They are made by carpenters and goldsmiths; they can be nothing but what the artisans wish them to be.  ⁴⁶Those who make them will certainly not live very long themselves; ⁴⁷how then can the things that are made by them be Gods? They have left only lies and reproach for those who come after.  ⁴⁸For when war or calamity comes upon them, the priests consult together as to where they can hide themselves and their Gods ⁴⁹How then can one fail to see that these are not Gods, for they cannot save themselves from war or calamity? ⁵⁰Since they are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver, it will afterward be known that they are false.  ⁵¹It will be manifest to all the nations and kings that they are not Gods but the work of human hands, and that there is no work of God in them.  ⁵²Who then can fail to know that they are not Gods

If the idolatry worship as disappeared from the world to a certain extent but it is still in use in the lives of so many.  When someone worships money, or desire, or pleasures, or the love of false glory all of which are Gods that take you away from the worship of the true God.

Baruch revels that these Gods have no will as it's will lies with those who made it., in its size and shape, and how it is a burden for its priests to hide it for it can not protect itself or save itself from the enemies.

53For they cannot set up a king over a country or give rain to people.  ⁵⁴They cannot judge their own cause or deliver one who is wronged, for they have no power; ⁵⁵they are like crows between heaven and earth.  When fire breaks out in a temple of wooden Gods overlaid with gold or silver, their priests will flee and escape, but the Gods will be burned up like timbers.  ⁵⁶Besides, they can offer no resistance to king or enemy.  Why then must anyone admit or think that they are Gods?

Burned up like timbers: as the wood ram of the house.

Baruch complete his words to show how useless these Gods are as they can not appoint a king or bring rain, and can not defend itself or those who are oppressed or if they are burnt in the temple, as its fate is to burnt, as it can not escape or defend itself.

 Give rain to people = compare to " Are there any among the idols of the nations that can

cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are You not He, O LORDour God?

Therefore we will wait for You, since You have made all these.  (Jeremiah 14:22).

Deliver one who is wronged = compare to " 6 The LORD executes righteousness

And justice for all who are oppressed." (Ps 104:6).

   57 Gods made of wood and overlaid with silver and gold are unable to save themselves from thieves or robbers.  ⁵⁸Anyone who can will strip them of their gold and silver and of the robes they wear, and go off with this booty, and they will not be able to help themselves.  ⁵⁹So it is better to be a king who shows his courage, or a household utensil that serves its owner's need, than to be these false Gods; better even the door of a house that protects its contents, than these false Gods; better also a wooden pillar in a palace, than these false Gods.    60 For sun and moon and stars are bright, and when sent to do a service, they are obedient.  ⁶¹So also the lightning, when it flashes, is widely seen; and the wind likewise blows in every land.  ⁶²When God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they carry out his command.  ⁶³And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does what it is ordered.  But these idols are not to be compared with them in appearance or power.  ⁶⁴Therefore one must not think that they are Gods, nor call them Gods, for they are not able either to decide a case or to do good to anyone.  ⁶⁵Since you know then that they are not Gods do not fear them.

Baruch the prophet compare between the beneficial things and these false Gods.  We find that the door has more value than those false Gods.  Even the pillar has more value than those Gods and the vessel too.  The moon stars and sun has more value than these Gods as they give light and the people benefit from them more than from these Gods which can do nothing to itself or others.

  66 They can neither curse nor bless kings; ⁶⁷they cannot show signs in the heavens for the nations, or shine like the sun or give light like the moon.  ⁶⁸The wild animals are better than they are, for they can flee to shelter and help themselves.  ⁶⁹So we have no evidence whatever that they are Gods; therefore do not fear them.

These Gods can not perform miracles among nations, and here he mentions that even though the wild animals are enemies to humans but they are still better than these Gods, for it can fight and defend itself and flee at the time of danger.

70Like a scarecrow in a cucumber bed, which guards nothing, so are their Gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver.  ⁷¹In the same way, their Gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver, are like a thornbush in a garden on which every bird perches; or like a corpse thrown out in the darkness.  ⁷²From the purple and linen^q that rot upon them you will know that they are not Gods; and they will finally be consumed themselves, and be a reproach in the land.  ⁷³Better, therefore, is someone upright who has no idols; such a person will be far above reproach.

Linen = in the Greek translation is mar mar.

Still Baruch despise these false Gods for it benefit nothing as it did not reach even to the level of scarecrow that is moved by the sower wherever he wants it to be to scare the birds, and in reality it is nothing but a piece of wood on which the sower puts cloth and a cap and human cloth that is moved by the wind.  At the end he says that the man that has no idol is better for he is far away from disgrace.

Dear Reader:

The devil tries fervently and in great deceit can give you an idol in the form of a young God in your life, like the love of money and all what is in your mind is how to repay the bank loan for instance.  You accept the idea easily, in order to fulfill the idea you start working two jobs and working overtime, including Saturdays and Sundays to increase your income.   I am not saying you forget the Church but rather you delay going to Church, and in a matter of weeks you find yourself in the grip of work.   Where is the Church? Where is Christ? Where is your care for your children? Where is your reading of the Bible? He has managed to trick you.  Even after you have repaid your loan the devil would have entered your life and you would think of buying another one? Or invest in another project, for example, buying another apartment or start another project to secure the future of your children.  The future of your children which was lost from you by you being busy, you might have come in terms with these facts but cannot change much, for you are busy, and since you are far from the Lord, the happiness with the devil gets even bigger, for you are truly worshipping an idol; the love of money, which the devil has decorated for you.

So many times we think that we are living the life of righteousness and faith, walking with God but yet on a very low Spiritual level and in great laziness and carelessness, hardly convincing ourselves of the need of going to Church and partaking of Holy Communion.   As we walk out of the Church and join friends in the Church’s yard, the devil jumps in and so we find ourselves talking and murmuring, and judging others.   Other times we go late to Church and we think we attended the whole Mass, we don’t even know when it started, not knowing that we should at the very least be there before the reading of the Gospel.   The question is where is the blessing in my life? Where is the preparation? Is it right to watch a movie till late at night and attend the Mass the next day? That is why the Church has put in place Vespers, in order for us to be prepared to attend the Mass and partake of Holy Communion.  That is why Vespers is a very important part of the Mass.

Another idol is in the form of narrow-minded personalities in the Church.  As they think that the Church belongs to them only.  This type of personality rejects everything, and argues for the sake of arguing, and fears any action as it thinks it’s aimed at removing their “highly-valued” statues.  For the devil has decorated and presented to them the devil of “I”, “ME”, “EGO” that destroys successful servants. 

The other idol is one of time, for whoever has time you find them watching TV!  When they talk with others, you find them talking about the priests, servants and people, and the talk is at the lowest level.  No one escape from the sting of their tongue, that casts out venomous poison.

Dear beloved reader: you have to be precise and careful to examine if you have an idol or not? Which and what is your idol?  Be careful even if it is a small idol, for we cannot serve two masters God and money.  You cannot falter between two opinions, if the Lord is God then follow Him, and if Baal is God then follow him. 

21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between

Two opinions? If the LORDis God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.  (1 Kings 18:21).   

Ehab Wahib

FOURTH CHAPTER

The book of Baruch

Bible, Revised Standard Version

Baruch

Bar.1

[1] These are the words of the book which Baruch the son of Neraiah, son of Mahseiah, son of Zedekiah, son of Hasadiah, son of Hilkiah, wrote in Babylon, [2] in the fifth year, on the seventh day of the month, at the time when the Chaldeans took Jerusalem and burned it with fire.  [3] And Baruch read the words of this book in the hearing of Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and in the hearing of all the people who came to hear the book, [4] and in the hearing of the mighty men and the princes, and in the hearing of the elders, and in the hearing of all the people, small and great, all who dwelt in Babylon by the river Sud.  [5] Then they wept, and fasted, and prayed before the Lord;[6] and they collected money, each giving what he could; [7] and they sent it to Jerusalem to Jehoiakim the high priest, the son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, and to the priests, and to all the people who were present with him in Jerusalem.  [8] At the same time, on the tenth day of Sivan, Baruch took the vessels of the house of the Lord, which had been carried away from the temple, to return them to the land of Judah -- the silver vessels which Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, had made, [9] after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away from Jerusalem Jeconiah and the princes and the prisoners and the mighty men and the people of the land, and brought them to Babylon.  [10] And they said: "Herewith we send you money; so buy with the money burnt offerings and sin offerings and incense, and prepare a cereal offering, and offer them upon the altar of the Lord our God; [11] and pray for the life of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and for the life of Belshazzar his son, that their days on earth may be like the days of heaven.  [12] And the Lord will give us strength, and he will give light to our eyes, and we shall live under the protection of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and under the protection of Belshazzar his son, and we shall serve them many days and find favor in their sight.  [13] And pray for us to the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God, and to this day the anger of the Lord and his wrath have not turned away from us.  [14] And you shall read this book which we are sending you, to make your confession in the house of the Lord on the days of the feasts and at appointed seasons.

[15] "And you shall say: `Righteousness belongs to the Lord our God, but confusion of face, as at this day, to us, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, [16] and to our kings and our princes and our priests and our prophets and our fathers, [17] because we have sinned before the Lord, [18] and have disobeyed him, and have not heeded the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the statutes of the Lord  which he set before us.

[19] From the day when the Lord brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt until today, we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, and we have been negligent, in not heeding his voice.  [20] So to this day there have clung to us the calamities and

the curse which the Lord declared through Moses his servant at the time when he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt to give to us a land flowing with milk and honey.  [21] We did not heed the voice of the Lord our God in all the words of the prophets whom he sent to us, but we each followed the intent of his own wicked heart by serving other Gods and doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord our God.

Bar.2

[1]"`So the Lord confirmed his word, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged Israel, and against our kings and against our princes and against the men of Israel and Judah.  [2] Under the whole heaven there has not been done the like of what he has done in Jerusalem, in accordance with what is written in the law of Moses, [3] that we should eat, one the flesh of his son and another the flesh of his daughter.  [4] And he gave them into subjection to all the kingdoms around us, to be a reproach and desolation among all the surrounding peoples, where the Lord has scattered them.

[5] They were brought low and not raised up, because we sinned against the Lord our God, in not heeding his voice.  [6] "`Righteousness belongs to the Lord our God, but

confusion of face to us and our fathers, as at this day.  [7] All those calamities with which the Lord threatened us have come upon us.  [8] Yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord by turning away, each of us, from the thoughts of his wicked heart.

[9] And the Lord has kept the calamities ready, and the Lord has brought them upon us, for the Lord is righteous in all his works which he has commanded us to do.  [10] Yet we have not obeyed his voice, to walk in the statutes of the Lord which he set before us [11] "`And now, O Lord God of Israel, who didst bring thy people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and with signs and wonders and with great power and  outstretched arm, and hast made thee a name, as at this day, [12] we have sinned, we have been unGodly, we have done wrong, O Lord our God, against all thy ordinances.

[13] Let thy anger turn away from us, for we are left, few in number, among the nations where thou hast scattered us.  [14] Hear, O Lord, our prayer and our supplication, and for thy own sake deliver us, and grant us favor in the sight of those who have carried us into exile; [15] that all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, for Israel and his descendants are called by thy name.  [16] O Lord, look down from thy holy habitation, and consider us.  Incline thy ear, O Lord, and hear; [17] open thy eyes, O Lord, and see; for the dead who are in Hades, whose spirit has been taken from their bodies, will not ascribe glory or justice to the Lord, [18] but the person that is greatly distressed, that goes about bent over and feeble, and the eyes that are failing, and the person that hungers, will ascribe to thee glory and righteousness, O Lord.  [19] For it is not because of any righteous deeds of our fathers or our kings that we bring before thee our prayer for mercy, O Lord our God.  [20] For thou hast sent thy anger and thy wrath upon us, as thou didst declare by thy servants the prophets, saying: [21] "Thus says the Lord: Bend your shoulders and serve the king of Babylon and you will remain in the land which I gave to your fathers.  [22] But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord and will not serve the king of Babylon, [23] I will make to cease from the cities of Judah and from the region about Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, and the whole land will be a desolation without inhabitants." [24] "`But we did not obey thy voice, to serve the king of Babylon; and thou hast confirmed thy words, which thou didst speak by thy servants the prophets, that the bones of our kings and the bones of our fathers would be brought out of their graves; [25] and behold, they have been cast out to the heat of day and the frost of night.  They perished in great misery, by famine and sword and pestilence.  [26] And the house which is called by thy name thou hast made as it is today, because of the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  [27] "`Yet thou hast dealt with us, O Lord our God, in all thy kindness and in all thy great compassion, [28] as thou didst speak by thy servant Moses on the day when thou didst command him to write thy law in the presence of the people of Israel, saying, [29] "If you will not obey my voice, this very great multitude will surely turn into a small number among the nations, where I will scatter them.  [30] For I know that they will not obey me, for they are a stiff-necked people.  But in the land of their exile they will come to themselves, [31] and they will know that I am the Lord their God.  I will give them a heart that obeys and ears that hear; [32] and they will praise me in the land of their exile, and will remember my name, [33] and will turn from their stubbornness and their wicked deeds; for they will remember the ways of their fathers, who sinned before the Lord [34] I will bring them again into the land which I swore to give to their fathers, to Abraham and to Isaac and to Jacob, and they will rule over it; and I will increase them, and they will not be diminished.  [35] I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their God and they shall be my people; and I will never again remove my people Israel from the land which I have given them."

Bar.3

[1] "`O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish and the wearied spirit cry out to thee.  [2] Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned before thee.  [3] For thou art enthroned for ever, and we are perishing for ever.  [4] O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the dead of Israel and of the sons of those who sinned before thee, who did not heed the voice of the Lord their God, so that calamities have clung to us.  [5] Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but in this crisis remember thy power and thy name.  [6] For thou art the Lord our God, and thee, O Lord, will we praise.  [7] For thou hast put the fear of thee in our hearts in order that we should call upon thy name; and we will praise thee in our exile, for we have put away from our hearts all the iniquity of our fathers who sinned before thee.  [8] Behold, we are today in our exile where thou hast scattered us, to be reproached and cursed and punished for all the iniquities of our fathers who forsook the Lord our God.'" [9] Hear the commandments of life, O Israel; give ear, and learn wisdom! [10] Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your enemies, that you are growing old in a foreign country, that you are defiled with the dead, [11] that you are counted among those in Hades? [12] You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom.  [13] If you had walked in the way of God, you would be dwelling in peace for ever.  [14] Learn where there is wisdom, where there is strength, where there is understanding, that you may at the same time discern where there is length of days, and life, where there is light for the eyes, and peace.  [15] Who has found her place? And who has entered her storehouses? [16] Where are the princes of the nations, and those who rule over the beasts on earth; [17] those who have sport with the birds of the air, and who hoard up silver and gold in which men trust, and there is no end to their getting; [18] those who scheme to get silver, and are anxious, whose labors are beyond measure? [19] They have vanished and gone down to Hades, and others have arisen in their place.  [20] Young men have seen the light of day, and have dwelt upon the earth; but they have not learned the way to knowledge, nor understood her paths, nor laid hold of her.  [21] Their sons have strayed far from her way.  [22] She has not been heard of in Canaan, nor seen in Teman; [23] the sons of Hagar, who seek for understanding on the earth, the merchants of Merran and Teman, the story-tellers and the seekers for understanding, have not learned the way to wisdom, nor given thought to her paths.  [24] O Israel, how great is the house of God! And how vast the territory that he possesses! [25] It is great and has no bounds; it is high and immeasurable.  [26] The giants were born there, who were famous of old, great in stature, expert in war.  [27] God did not choose them, nor give them the way to knowledge; [28] so they perished because they had no wisdom, they perished through their folly.  [29] Who has gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds? [30] Who has gone over the sea, and found her, and will buy her for pure gold? [31] No one knows the way to her, or is concerned about the path to her.  [32] But he who knows all things knows her, he found her by his understanding.  He who prepared the earth for all time filled it with four-footed creatures; [33] he who sends forth the light, and it goes, called it, and it obeyed him in fear; [34] the stars shone in their watches, and were glad; he called them, and they said, "Here we are!" They shone with gladness for him who made them.  [35] This is our God; no other can be compared to him! [36] He found the whole way to knowledge, and gave her to Jacob his servant and to Israel whom he loved.  [37] Afterward she appeared upon earth and lived among men.

Bar.4

[1] She is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endures for ever.

All who hold her fast will live, and those who forsake her will die.  [2] Turn, O Jacob, and take her; walk toward the shining of her light.  [3] Do not give your glory to another or your advantages to an alien people.  [4] Happy are we, O Israel, for we know what is pleasing to God.  [5] Take courage, my people, O memorial of Israel! [6] It was not for destruction that you were sold to the nations, but you were handed over to your enemies because you angered God.  [7] For you provoked him who made you, by sacrificing to demons and not to God.  [8] You forgot the everlasting God, who brought you up, and you grieved Jerusalem, who reared you.  [9] For she saw the wrath that came upon you from God, and she said: "Hearken, you neighbors of Zion, God has brought great sorrow upon me; [10] for I have seen the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting brought upon them.  [11] With joy I nurtured them, but I sent them away with weeping and sorrow.  [12] let no one rejoice over me, a widow and bereaved of many; I was left desolate because of the sins of my children, because they turned away from the law of God.  [13] They had no regard for his statutes; they did not walk in the ways of God's commandments, nor tread the paths of discipline in his righteousness.  [14] Let the neighbors of Zion come; remember the capture of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting brought upon them.  [15] For he brought against them a nation from afar, a shameless nation, of a strange language, who had no respect for an old man, and had no pity for a child.  [16] They led away the widow's beloved sons, and bereaved the lonely woman of her daughters.  [17] "But I, how can I help you? [18] For he who brought these calamities upon you will deliver you from the hand of your enemies [19] go, my children, go; for I have been left desolate? [20] I have taken off the robe of peace and put on the sackcloth of my supplication; I will cry to the Everlasting all my days.  [21] "Take courage, my children, cry to God, and he will deliver you from the power and hand of the enemy.  [22] For I have put my hope in the Everlasting to save you, and joy has come to me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which soon will come to you from your everlasting Savior.  [23] For I sent you out with sorrow and weeping, but God will give you back to me with joy and gladness for ever.  [24] For as the neighbors of Zion have now seen your capture, so they soon will see your salvation by God, which will come to you with great glory and with the splendor of the Everlasting.  [25] My children, endure with patience the wrath that has come upon you from God.  Your enemy has overtaken you, but you will soon see their destruction and will tread upon their necks.  [26] My tender sons have traveled rough roads; they were taken away like a flock carried off by the enemy.  [27] "Take courage, my children, and cry to God, for you will be remembered by him who brought this upon you.  [28] For just as you purposed to go astray from God, return with tenfold zeal to seek him.  [29] For he who brought these calamities upon you will bring you everlasting joy with your salvation." [30] Take courage, O Jerusalem, for he who named you will comfort you.  [31] Wretched will be those who afflicted you and rejoiced at your fall.  [32] Wretched will be the cities which your children served as slaves; wretched will be the city which received your sons.  [33] For just as she rejoiced at your fall and was glad for your ruin, so she will be grieved at her own desolation.  [34] And I will take away her pride in her great population, and her insolence will be turned to grief.  [35] For fire will come upon her from the Everlasting for many days, and for a long time she will be inhabited by demons.  [36] Look toward the east, O Jerusalem, and see the joy that is coming to you from God! [37] Behold, your sons are coming, whom you sent away; they are coming, gathered from east and west, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God. 

Bar.5

[1] Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on for ever the beauty of the glory from God.  [2] Put on the robe of the righteousness from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting.  [3] For God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven.  [4] For your name will for ever be called by God, "Peace of righteousness and glory of Godliness." [5] Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height and look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them.  [6] For they went forth from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne.  [7] For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God.  [8] The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God's command.  [9] For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him

Bar.6

The Letter of Jeremiah

6 A copy of a letter that Jeremiah sent to those who were to be taken to Babylon as exiles by the king of the Babylonians, to give them the message that God had commanded him. 

The People Face a Long Captivity

  2 Because of the sins that you have committed before God, you will be taken to Babylon as exiles by Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians.  ³Therefore when you have come to Babylon you will remain there for many years, for a long time, up to seven generations; after that I will bring you away from there in peace.  ⁴Now in Babylon you will see Gods made of silver and gold and wood, which people carry on their shoulders, and which cause the heathen to fear.  ⁵So beware of becoming at all like the foreigners or of letting fear for these Gods^a possess you ⁶when you see the multitude before and behind them worshiping them.  But say in your heart, "It is you, O Lord, whom we must worship." ⁷For my angel is with you, and he is watching over your lives. 

The Helplessness of Idols

  8 Their tongues are smoothed by the carpenter, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and silver; but they are false and cannot speak.  ⁹People^b take gold and make crowns for the heads of their Gods, as they might for a girl who loves ornaments.  ¹⁰Sometimes the priests secretly take gold and silver from their Gods and spend it on themselves, ¹¹or even give some of it to the prostitutes on the terrace.  They deck their Gods^c out with garments like human beings--these Gods of silver and gold and wood ¹²that cannot save themselves from rust and corrosion.  When they have been dressed in purple robes, ¹³their faces are wiped because of the dust from the temple, which is thick upon them.  ¹⁴One of them holds a scepter, like a district judge, but is unable to destroy anyone who offends it.  ¹⁵Another has a dagger in its right hand, and an ax, but cannot defend itself from war and robbers.  ¹⁶From this it is evident that they are not Gods; so do not fear them.
  17 For just as someone's dish is useless when it is broken, ¹⁸so are their Gods when they have been set up in the temples.  Their eyes are full of the dust raised by the feet of those who enter.  And just as the gates are shut on every side against anyone who has offended a king, as though under sentence of death, so the priests make their temples secure with doors and locks and bars, in order that they may not be plundered by robbers.  ¹⁹They light more lamps for them than they light for themselves, though their Gods^d can see none of them.  ²⁰They are^e just like a beam of the temple, but their hearts, it is said, are eaten away when crawling creatures from the earth devour them and their robes.  They do not notice ²¹when their faces have been blackened by the smoke of the temple.  ²²Bats, swallows, and birds alight on their bodies and heads; and so do cats.  ²³From this you will know that they are not Gods; so do not fear them.
  24 As for the gold that they wear for beauty--it^f will not shine unless someone wipes off the tarnish; for even when they were being cast, they did not feel it.  ²⁵They are bought without regard to cost, but there is no breath in them.  ²⁶Having no feet, they are carried on the shoulders of others, revealing to humankind their worthlessness.  And those who serve them are put to shame ²⁷because, if any of these Gods falls^g to the ground, they themselves must pick it up.  If anyone sets it upright, it cannot move itself; and if it is tipped over, it cannot straighten itself.  Gifts are placed before them just as before the dead.  ²⁸The priests sell the sacrifices that are offered to these Gods^h and use the money themselves.  Likewise their wives preserve some of the meatⁱ with salt, but give none to the poor or helpless.  ²⁹Sacrifices to them may even be touched by women in their periods or at childbirth.  Since you know by these things that they are not Gods, do not fear them.
  30 For how can they be called Gods? Women serve meals for Gods of silver and gold and wood; ³¹and in their temples the priests sit with their clothes torn, their heads and beards shaved, and their heads uncovered.  ³²They howl and shout before their Gods as some do at a funeral banquet.  ³³The priests take some of the clothing of their Gods^j to clothe their wives and children.  ³⁴Whether one does evil to them or good, they will not be able to repay it.  They cannot set up a king or depose one.  ³⁵Likewise they are not able to give either wealth or money; if one makes a vow to them and does not keep it, they will not require it.  ³⁶They cannot save anyone from death or rescue the weak from the strong.  ³⁷They cannot restore sight to the blind; they cannot rescue one who is in distress.  ³⁸They cannot take pity on a widow or do good to an orphan.  ³⁹These things that are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver are like stones from the mountain, and those who serve them will be put to shame.  ⁴⁰Why then must anyone think that they are Gods, or call them Gods?

  Besides, even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them; for when they see someone who cannot speak, they bring Bel and pray that the mute may speak, as though Bel^k were able to understand! ⁴¹Yet they themselves cannot perceive this and abandon them, for they have no sense.  ⁴²And the women, with cords around them, sit along the passageways, burning bran for incense.  ⁴³When one of them is led off by one of the passers-by and is taken to bed by him, she derides the woman next to her, because she was not as attractive as herself and her cord was not broken.  ⁴⁴Whatever is done for these idols^l is false.  Why then must anyone think that they are Gods, or call them Gods?
  45 They are made by carpenters and goldsmiths; they can be nothing but what the artisans wish them to be.  ⁴⁶Those who make them will certainly not live very long themselves; ⁴⁷how then can the things that are made by them be Gods? They have left only lies and reproach for those who come after.  ⁴⁸For when war or calamity comes upon them, the priests consult together as to where they can hide themselves and their Gods.^m 49How then can one fail to see that these are not Gods, for they cannot save themselves from war or calamity? ⁵⁰Since they are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver, it will afterward be known that they are false.  ⁵¹It will be manifest to all the nations and kings that they are not Gods but the work of human hands, and that there is no work of God in them.  ⁵²Who then can fail to know that they are not Gods?ⁿ
  53 For they cannot set up a king over a country or give rain to people.  ⁵⁴They cannot judge their own cause or deliver one who is wronged, for they have no power; ⁵⁵they are like crows between heaven and earth.  When fire breaks out in a temple of wooden Gods overlaid with gold or silver, their priests will flee and escape, but the Gods^o will be burned up like timbers.  ⁵⁶Besides, they can offer no resistance to king or enemy.  Why then must anyone admit or think that they are Gods?
  57 Gods made of wood and overlaid with silver and gold are unable to save themselves from thieves or robbers.  ⁵⁸Anyone who can will strip them of their gold and silver and of the robes they wear, and go off with this booty, and they will not be able to help themselves.  ⁵⁹So it is better to be a king who shows his courage, or a household utensil that serves its owner's need, than to be these false Gods; better even the door of a house that protects its contents, than these false Gods; better also a wooden pillar in a palace, than these false Gods.
  60 For sun and moon and stars are bright, and when sent to do a service, they are obedient.  ⁶¹So also the lightning, when it flashes, is widely seen; and the wind likewise blows in every land.  ⁶²When God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they carry out his command.  ⁶³And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does what it is ordered.  But these idols^p are not to be compared with them in appearance or power.  ⁶⁴Therefore one must not think that they are Gods, nor call them Gods, for they are not able either to decide a case or to do good to anyone.  ⁶⁵Since you know then that they are not Gods, do not fear them.
  66 They can neither curse nor bless kings; ⁶⁷they cannot show signs in the heavens for the nations, or shine like the sun or give light like the moon.  ⁶⁸The wild animals are better than they are, for they can flee to shelter and help themselves.  ⁶⁹So we have no evidence whatever that they are Gods; therefore do not fear them.
  70 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber bed, which guards nothing, so are their Gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver.  ⁷¹In the same way, their Gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver, are like a thornbush in a garden on which every bird perches; or like a corpse thrown out in the darkness.  ⁷²From the purple and linen^q that rot upon them you will know that they are not Gods; and they will finally be consumed themselves, and be a reproach in the land.  ⁷³Better, therefore, is someone upright who has no idols; such a person will be far above reproach.

FIFTH CHAPTER

Firstly: the objections on the authenticity of the Book

Secondly: books for the same author.

Thirdly: references.

Firstly: Answers to the objections on the Authenticity of the book.

The First Objection:

They say that the book is not like the other books that was used as a reference in the Gospel and the New Testament .For it said that no one from the authors of the New Testament have used the book.  That is why the protestant have not included this book in the Bible.

The Answer:

Here we answer that the book of Baruch was part of the book of Jeremiah and completing it till the second century .and to be sure of it and its authenticity:

1.  St Paul the apostle use it as a reference in(1 Corth 1:24) Christ the power of

God and the wisdom of God.

For Baruch the prophet talks about the hidden wisdom, that is hid form the world, and that which was given by God to Israel, he asks the question: [29] Who has gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds? (Baruch 3:29).

The answer here is from the mouth of our Lord Jesus that which was given to us through the beloved apostle : 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.( John 3:13).

2.  The Prophet Baruch when he warns Israel for their sins he says: [7] For you provoked him who made you, by sacrificing to demons and not to God.  (Baruch 4:7).

The apostle St Paul repeats the same words warning the Church of Corinthians. 

20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.  21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's Table and of the table of demons.  22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? ((1Corth 10:20-22).  Here St Paul uses two verses in the book of Baruch.

3.  The prophecy of Baruch: [36] He found the whole way to knowledge, and gave her to Jacob his servant and to Israel whom he loved.  [37] Afterward he appeared upon earth

and lived among men.  (Baruch 3:36).

We find Baruch is in front of a great revelation in which he sees God appearing on earth and walking among men.  This is also explained by St John the beloved: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14).

He also said : That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- ( 1 John 1:1).  So St John did not take the exact words but it follows closely to what was stated in the book of Baruch.

The Second Objection

The book had verses from the psalms :[17] open thy eyes, O Lord, and see; for the dead who are in Hades, whose spirit has been taken from their bodies, will not ascribe glory or justice to the Lord,( Baruch 2:17).

The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor any who go down into silence.  (Psalms 115:17).

If the book was inspired, then why does it contain exact words that was mentioned in other books?

The Answer:

The scriber of the book is Baruch the son of Neraiah, son of Mahseiah who came after David and after the time on which the Psalms were written, so we do not see any objection in the scriber using the psalms, as we see a lot of verses from the Old Testament being used in the New Testament.

The Third Objection

In the book there was a city by the name of Merran in (Baruch 3:23) [23] the sons of Hagar, who seek for understanding on the earth, the merchants of Merran and Teman, the story-tellers and the seekers for understanding, have not learned the way to wisdom, nor given thought to her paths.  For it is clear that we did not know about this city before and was not mentioned in any of the Books of the Old Testament. 

The Answer:

We response and say that in the same verse (Baruch 3:23) in which the city was mentioned (Merran) there was another city that was mentioned which was the city of Teman and the people of Hagar, so it is very clear that the city of Merran is close to the city of Teman which is to the north of Edom on the hill of Esau to the East of the city of Betra in which the people were well known for their wisdom:

+ 7 Against Edom.  Thus says the LORDof hosts: " Is wisdom no more in Teman?

Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? (Jeremiah 49:7).

+ 9 Then your mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that everyone from the mountains of Esau May be cut off by slaughter.  (Obadiah 9).

So it is related to the people of Hagar and that is confirmed in the book of Baruch (Ba 3:23) about the people of these two cities that they were " story-tellers and seekers for understanding" that is to say they were of great wisdom exactly as was mentioned in the book of Jeremiah and the book of Obadiah. 

The fourth Objection:

Some object that history did not mention anything about the vessels that was retrieved to Jerusalem as mentioned in the book of Baruch 1:8

The answer:

If we look closely to the text we do not find any contradiction as [8] At the same time, on the tenth day of Sivan, Baruch took the vessels of the house of the Lord, which had been carried away from the temple, to return them to the land of Judah…

The book mention the word return and did not mention returned and in verse 10 it mentions that he sent silver to buy the burnt offerings of sin offerings to be offered in the house of the Lord.  In verse 14 in the same chapter he mentions that the book was sent to be read to the people in the house of the Lord and did not mention the vessels that went with the book to return to Judah, as this was one of the failure attempts to retrieve the vessels which was prophesized by in the book of Jeremiah.

Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: "Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, "Behold, the vessels

of the Lord's house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon"; for they prophesy a lie to you.  17 Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon, and live! Why should this city be laid waste? 18 But if they are prophets, and if the word of the LORDis with them, let them now make intercession to the LORDof hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, do not go to Babylon.' 19 "For thus says the LORDof hosts concerning the pillars, concerning the Sea, concerning the carts, and concerning the remainder of the vessels that remain in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem-- 21 yes, thus says the LORDof hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem: 22 "They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall be until the day that I visit them,' says the LORD.  "Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place.'"  1 And it happened in the same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORDin the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, 2 "Thus speaks the LORDof hosts, the God of Israel, saying: "I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.  3 Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.  4 And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the LORD, "for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'" 5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the LORD, 6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! The LORDdo so; the LORDperform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the LORD's house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place.  7 Nevertheless hear now

this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: 8 The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms--of war and disaster and pestilence.  9 As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORDhas truly sent."

The Fifth Objection:

Some object the mention of Jehoiakimthe priest (Ba 1:7).  As this name is not mentioned history till a full century has passed.

The answer:

It was very clear that Nebuchadnezzar used to change names as he changed Metnia the cousin of Jeconiah the king, as he has done before in changing the name of Pharaoh Necho the king of Egypt from Eliakim to Jehoiakim when his brother Jehoahaz was captive.

31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.  His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.  32 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.  33 Now Pharaoh Necho put him in prison at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and he imposed on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.  34 Then Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim.  And Pharaoh took Jehoahaz and went to Egypt, and he died there.  (2 Kings 23:31-34).

He also changed Mattaniah to Zedekiah.

Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.  (2 Kings 24:17).

For when Nebuchadnezzar went in the second stage of captivity with the hands of the captain of the guard Nebuzaradan, he killed Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest.

24 The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.  25 He also took out of the city an officer who had charge of the men of war, seven men of the king's close associates who  were found in the city, the principal scribe of the army who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the midst of the city.  26 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took these and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.  27 Then the king of Babylon struck them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath.  Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land.  (Jer 52:24-27).

Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah; 14 Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak.  15 Jehozadak went into captivity when the LORDcarried Judah and Jerusalem into captivity by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.  (1 Chronicles 6:13-14).

We do not know if he has been returned back to Jerusalem or not, and if he has changed his name or took one of his brothers and gave him the name of Jehoiakim instead, for Baruch mentions that he is the son of Hilkiah the son of Shallum .  Compare to

and they sent it to Jerusalem to Jehoiakim the high priest, the son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, and to the priests, and to all the people who were present with him in Jerusalem (Baruch 1:7).

+ Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah; 14 Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak (1 Chronicles 6:13).

+11 Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the officer over the house of God; ( 1 Chronicles 9:11).

+ Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the leader of the house of God.( Nehmiah 11:11).

These were the objections and their answers.

                                                             To this the Lord has helped us.

Reference:

1 The dictionary of the Bible.

2 The book of encyclopedia the first and second and third and fourth.

3 GOOD NEWS BIBLE.

4 The book of Baruch by the Rev: Fr Bishoy Abdelmasih ( know your Bible).

5 The book of Baruch by the Monk Youanis St Paula.

6 The magazine of Morcos the year1992 from January to December in the explanations of the book of Baruch.

7 the holy Bible old testament in the council of the Holy Bible in the east 1991.

Dar elmashrik -Beirut .

8 The illustrated Bible dictionary (Part 1).

  The illustrated Bible dictionary (Part 2).

The illustrated Bible dictionary (Part 3).

9 The interpretation of the Book of Jeremiah by the Rev Fr Tadros Yacoub Malaty.

10 Encarta Encyclopedia 1993-1995.

11 The interpretation of the book of Baruch ( the second Canonical Books Maktabit Elmahaba).

12 The deacons and hymns service book ( khedmet Elshamas) by the Teacher Farag Abdelmasih 1990 edition.

13 The apocryphal Devterocakanonical Books.

14 The Nicene & post Nicen Fathers Vol IX (9) p.  84 in the book of trinity by John of Damascus.  Hilary ebn boaniras.

15 The Nicene & post Nicen  Fathers Vol IX (9) p.  97 in the book of trinity by John of Damascus .  Heliary ebn boaniras.

16 The Nicene and post Nicene fathers vol V (5) p 101

17 Saint Gregory the Bishop of Nica referring to parts of the Book of Baruch.

18 The Nicene father letter of Athanasious Vol IV (4) P 552.

19 The Nicen Father Vol VII  (7) P 68.

20 The Nicen Father Vol VII ( 7) P 27.  St Cyril of Jerusalem.

21 The Nicen Antinicent Father Vol X (10).

22  The Nicen Antinicent Father Vol V (5) P 224 Heiopoliet.

23 The Nicen Antinicent Father Vol V (5).  P 69-73.

24 The book of the passion week - Alexandria edition -sporting.

25 The Holy Bible ( councils of the holy Bible Lebanon).  The old Testament the Fourth Edition 1995.

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+++

+

Other Books for the Author.

1.  The book of Tobit, first edition finished, second edition finished, and currently preparing for the third edition.

2 The Book of Judith, the first edition has finished, currently printing the second edition.

3 the completion of the book of Daniel the first edition.

Saint George Coptic Orthodox Church

3 A Bowral St Kensington Sydney NSW 2033 Australia.

Post Office Box 52 Kensington NSW 2033

The Church of St MARY

Roud elfarag 5 Elkarky St

Shoubra Masir.

Cairo - Egypt.

Dr Munir Agiby

Chicago USA.

+ If the book runs out we will print a second edition for all the income from this work goes in the activities of Holy Bible Studies.

+ You can obtain a copy of the book by ringing (02) 9825 2470 Sydney

                                                                   or 4321937 Cairo.

Or via correspondence: 18 Glengyle Cr

                                       Wattle Grove NSW 2173 SYDNEY AUSTRALIA.

OR Egypt.  30 Ebin Elasir St Shoubra Cairo.

Also available competions in the Holy Bible in Arabic and English:

The book of Luke

The Book of Jonah.

The Book of James.

The book of Tobit.

The Book of Judges.

The Book of Joshua.

The Book of Esther.

The Book of Judith.

The Book of Genesis.

The books of the first and second epistle of St Peter.