Baruch

Baruch son of Neriah was the scribe and devoted companion of the prophet Jeremiah, who wrote down Jeremiah's dictated oracles and read them publicly in the temple (Jeremiah 36:4–8). When Jehoiakim burned the first scroll, Baruch wrote another from Jeremiah's dictation. He preserved Jeremiah's writings through the Babylonian period and is credited with editing and transmitting the book of Jeremiah as it now exists. Jeremiah purchased a field at Anathoth as a symbolic act of hope for restoration and gave the deed to Baruch for safekeeping (Jeremiah 32:12–16). A chapter of personal reassurance is addressed to Baruch himself, who had cried out in distress (Jeremiah 45). An apocryphal book bears his name. In 1975 an ancient clay seal (bulla) inscribed 'Berekhyahu son of Neriyahu the scribe' was identified as his personal seal.