1. The Writing of the Word, verses 1-4. The Lord commanded Jeremiah to dictate the threats of divine judgment against all idolaters to Baruch who wrote them down in a book.
2. The Reading of the Word, verses 5-15. Jeremiah instructed Baruch to read the Scriptures in the Lord's house with the prayer that the people would heed the warnings, repent of their evil and return to true worship. In honor of the reading, a day of fast was proclaimed throughout Jerusalem. After delivering the contents of the book to the general population, Baruch was asked to read it again to all the princes of Judah.
3. The Reaction to the Word, verses 16-19. The threatened judgment of God worked fear within the hearts of the princes. They all agreed that the book needed to be read to the king. However, knowing the nature of Jehoiakim, they encouraged Baruch to warn Jeremiah. Both of them should hide from the king because he might react violently to the warnings of God.