25/02/2023
AFRICA IN THE BIBLE
Jehudi [the African Prince] reading Jeremiah's scroll (Jr 36:14, 21, 23)
In the fourth year when the arrogant and evil king, Jehoiakim, succeeded his father Josiah, who was a reformer, the word of Yahweh came to prophet Jeremiah to put his prophecies into writing. He employed a secretary (Baruch), dictated the words of the Lord to him, and he put it into written form (Jr 36:2-4). After Baruch had completed the writing, Jeremiah sent him to read it in the temple during the day of fasting when people throughout the land assembled in the temple - probably due to some national distress or emergency in December 604 BCE. During what might probably be the most memorable day of Baruch's life, he read Yahweh's words, dictated to him by the prophet Jeremiah, in the temple. Although there is no record of any reaction to the words read, one will probably be right to infer that the people were greatly moved. Micaiah immediately reported the matter to the princes (Jr 36:11-13) who were anxious to hear the words of the scroll themselves probably because they could not believe that a man who was banned from the temple and almost killed could have written such a thing. The princes sent 'Jehudi, the son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Kushi' to bring Baruch and his scroll (Jr 36:14). However, when they heard the words and ascertained that they were Jeremiah's words, they were greatly distressed and prepared to consult the king immediately. Knowing what the reaction of the king would be, they advised Baruch and Jeremiah to hide.
After the words had been reported to King Jehoiakim, he sent 'Jehudi, son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Kushi' (כושׁי) to bring the scroll and read it to his hearing. For the third time, the scroll was read. However, after 'three or four columns' were heard, the king, instead of reacting with reverence like King Josiah, in fury 'cut them off with a penknife' and burnt them in the fire (Jr 36:23). He went further to order the arrest of Baruch and Jeremiah, but 'the LORD hid them' (Jr 36:26).
In this account, the writer of Jeremiah 36 has a list of the important personalities involved. Among the important participants identified personally is 'Yehudi ben Nethaniah ben Shelemiah ben 'Kushi' (Jr 36:14, 21, 23). There are several unusual features about the personal identification of Yehudi. It is very unusual and remarkable that Yehudi's ancestry was traced to the third generation. Literally, his name means 'Jew'. However, his great-grandfather's name, Cushi, means 'black'.
However, a careful examination of the role he played shows that he was probably the most trusted and 'respected man on the scene' (Rice 1975:107). That was probably why he was called upon by the king's ministers and the king himself at the time of such a serious threat and impending crisis (Jeremiah's letter). It is also possible that he was the only one among the king's ministers 'who transcended party strife' (Rice 1975:107). During the discovery of the temple scroll in the days of Josiah (621 BCE), Shaphan, the secretary of state, read the newly discovered scroll which led to the national reformation. The only logical conclusion for that is that Yehudi was not only of African ancestry, he was probably one of the highest and most educated royal state officials (Harrison 1973:20).6 This conclusion is strengthened if one notices that out of so many officials present, he was the only one asked to read such an important and sensitive document. This can also be supported by the fact that the business of writing and reading belonged to the professionals in those days (Holladay 2003:185-189). It should also be added that the writer and the final editor of the book of Jeremiah wanted to demonstrate why Africans were so greatly respected throughout ancient Israel. That is probably because of their wisdom.
