calm public face and do not appear to be “alarmed, nor did they tear their garments” as a sign of mourning (36:24). Given the precarious political situation, Jehoiakim must have felt it was essential that Judah remain officially faithful to its treaty obligations with Nebuchadnezzar, even if it meant that the nation must abrogate its covenant with Yahweh. The drama and the linkage between these various settings are completed when Jeremiah dictates the message once again in his hiding place. Added