BARUCH

(literally blesaed)^ is used as the name of but several individuals, of whom the most celebrated was of the son of Neriah, scribe and a istant to the prophet have Jeremiah. During the reign of Jehoiakim, about B.C. 607, Jeremiah, while in prison, having been divinely commi ioned to put all his prophecies in poet, writing, dictated them to Baruch, who inserted them in a roll, which he was ordered to read both within cen- In and at the entrance of the temple. Jehoiakim on hearing its commencement cut it in pieces and threw along it into the fire. At the captivity, aiter the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah and Baruch were permitted to remain in Palestine, but were afterwards carried into Egypt, B.c. 588. The subsequent life of of Baruch is little known. According to one tradition he died in Egypt; according to another, he quitted Egypt for Babylon, and died there twelve years after Babylon was destroyed. One of the apocryphal books bears the name of Baruch. The Council pen of Trent gave it a place in the canon, but its authenticity was not admitted either by the ancient Jews or the early Christian fathers.