17 Then they asked Baruch, "Tell us, how did you come to write all this? Did Jeremiah dictate it?"
17 And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
17 Then they asked Baruch, "Tell us, please, how did you write all these words? Was it at his dictation?"
17 They asked Baruch, "Tell us, how did you come to write all this? Was it at Jeremiah's dictation?"
17 And they asked Baruch, saying, "Tell us now, how did you write all these words--at his instruction?"
17 "But first, tell us how you got these messages. Did they come directly from Jeremiah?"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 36:17
Commentary on Jeremiah 36:9-19
(Read Jeremiah 36:9-19)
Shows of piety and devotion may be found even among those, who, though they keep up forms of godliness, are strangers and enemies to the power of it. The princes patiently attended the reading of the whole book. They were in great fear. But even those who are convinced to the truth and importance of what they hear, and are disposed to favour those who preach it, often have difficulties and reserves about their safety, interest, or preferment, so that they do not act according to their convictions, and try to get rid of what they find troublesome.