Lives of Scripture
Gemariah (M)
First named in Jeremiah 36:10-25
Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe held a chamber in the upper court of the temple during the reign of King Jehoiakim. In Jehoiakim's fifth year, Baruch read Jeremiah's scroll of prophecies aloud to the people from Gemariah's chamber, at the entrance of the New Gate (Jeremiah 36:9-10). Gemariah's son Micaiah heard it and went down to the king's palace to report the words to the officials meeting there, his father among them (36:11-13). The officials had Baruch read the scroll to them as well, were alarmed, and resolved to tell the king -- but first advised Baruch and Jeremiah to go into hiding (36:14-19). When the scroll was read before Jehoiakim as he sat beside a fire in his winter house, the king cut it apart column by column and threw it into the flames. Gemariah, with Elnathan and Delaiah, pleaded with the king not to burn it, but he would not listen, and neither the king nor his servants were afraid at what they heard (36:20-25). The king ordered Jeremiah and Baruch arrested, but the LORD hid them (36:26), and Jeremiah dictated the scroll again with many words added (36:32). Gemariah could not stop the king, but he pleaded for God's word before a king who despised it.
Thought for Today
Gemariah was one of three officials who bravely urged the king not to burn Jeremiah's scroll of God's words. Jesus is the living Word no fire can destroy.
References: Jeremiah 36:10-25
Genealogy
Connections
- Shaphan (M) — begot → Gemariah (M)
- Gemariah (M) — begot → Micaiah (M)
- Elnathan (M) ↔ urged the king to spare the scroll ↔ Gemariah (M)
When Baruch's reading of Jeremiah's scroll alarmed Jerusalem's officials, Elnathan and Gemariah were among those who urged King Jehoiakim not to burn it, though the king cut it apart and burned it anyway.
Jeremiah 36:12; Jeremiah 36:25
- Delaiah (M) ↔ urged the king to spare the scroll ↔ Gemariah (M)
When Jehoiakim began cutting apart and burning the scroll of Jeremiah's prophecies as it was read to him, Delaiah joined Gemariah and Elnathan in specifically urging the king not to burn it, though he would not listen to them.
Jeremiah 36:21-25
