When King Jehoiakim was told by the princes what Baruch had read, he immediately ordered the roll brought before him and read in his hearing. One of the royal attendants, Jehudi by name, fetched the roll and began reading the words of reproof and warning. It was the time of winter, and the king and his companions of state, the princes of Judah, were gathered about an open fire. Only a small portion had been read, when the king, far from trembling 434 at the danger hanging over himself and his people, seized the roll and in a frenzy of rage "cut it with the penknife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed." Verse 23.

Da fyrsterne fortalte kong Jojakim, hvad Baruk havde læst, gav han øjeblikkelig ordrer til, at man skulle hente bogrullen og læse den op for ham. En af kongens folk, Jehudi, hentede bogrullen og begyndte at oplæse de irettesættelser og advarsler, som den indeholdt. Det var vinter, og kongen og hans embedsmænd, Judas fyrster, var samlet omkring et åbent ildsted. Der var kun læst et lille udsnit, da kongen, fuldstændig upåvirket af den fare, som truede ham og hans folk, greb bogrullen og i raseri skar nogle spalter af "med statsskriverens pennekniv og kastede dem på ilden i bækkenet, indtil hele bogrullen var fortæret". 23. vers.