The king had destroyed Jeremiah’s roll
of prophecy and would have got rid of its authors. YHWH interfered and saved
the authors. And now follows the last part: YHWH orders Jeremiah to reproduce
the roll in the exact manner of the former one. Just as the intention of the
king undoubtedly was to neutralize the prophecies of disaster, to avert them by
destroying the roll and seeking to dispatch its authors, the intention behind
the reproduction of it is quite evidently to ensure that Jeremiah’s prophecies
remain in force. Just as the king by getting rid of the prophecy and the
prophet wished to show the whole world that no mighty YHWH stood behind
Jeremiah, so the consequent development shows that Jeremiah is indeed YHWH’s
true prophet who only speaks that which YHWH intends to do. And in the
situation caused by the king’s action, in this new situation, YHWH gives
a further oracle to his prophet, So we hear an entirely new oracle against
Jehoiakim, and so we are told in the last part of v. 32 ‘and there were added
besides unto them many like words.’ Every thought of repentance and forgiveness
disappears; all that remains is the absolute proclamation of doom for the king,
for the city, and for the people he represents. (Eduard Nielsen, Oral
Tradition [Studies in Biblical Theology 11; London: SCM Press, 1954], 70-71)
Further Reading:
Biblical Prophets Changing their Words and the Words of Previous Prophets
