BARUCH, Boor: OF. An apocryphal book of the Old Testament, embodied in the Septuagint (i.e. Greek) translation, where it is placed be tween Jeremiah and Lamentations. While claim ing to be the work of Jeremiah's secretary, it is in reality a composition due to several writers, perhaps as many as four, none of whom can be placed earlier than the middle or beginning of the Fourth Century B.C. The latest portions of the book bring us beyond the date of the destruc tion of Jerusalem.
After an historical introduction (chap. i. 1-14) describing the origin and purpose of the book, there comes a confession of the people's sin, which led to the captivity, and a prayer for the restoration of the people's independence (i. 19— iii. 8). The second section (iii. 9—iv. 4) in praise of wisdom, which is synonymous with the Divine Law. much in the style of the eighth chapter of Proverbs and the later 'wisdom' literature (e.g. Eeclesiasticus). The book closes
(iv. 5—v. 9) with words of consolation to the Exiles. Whether the entire book, or only por tions of it, were originally written in Hebrew is a question in regard to which no agreement has been reached among critics; and there are even some scholars who believe that the entire work was originally written in Greek, though it may be added that this is an unlikely view.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. For Greek text and versions Bibliography. For Greek text and versions in modern languages, sec the Bibliography under APOCRYPHA. Consult also: Scheirer, History of the Jewish People is the Times of Jesus Christ, Vol. 11. (translation, Edinburgh, 1890-91) ; Fritsche, Commentaries (Leipzig. 1851) ; Ewald, Prophets of the Old Testament, Vol. III (Eng. trans., London, Kneucker, Das Bueh Baruch (Leipzig, 1S79).