From where do we derive that one must rend his garments when
a Torah scroll has been burned? As it is written: “And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he would cut it with a penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier” (
Jeremiah 36:23). With regard to the verse itself the Gemara asks:
What is meant by
“three or four leaves,” and why did he cut the book only at that point?
The Gemara explains:
They said to Jehoiakim: Jeremiah has written a book of Lamentations over the future downfall and destruction of Jerusalem.
He said to them: What is written in it? They read him the first verse:
“How does the city sit solitary” (
Lamentations 1:1).
He said to them: I am king, and this does not apply to me.
They read him the second verse:
“She weeps sore in the night” (
Lamentations 1:2). He said to them:
I am king, and this does not apply to me. They read him the third verse:
“Judah is gone into exile due to affliction” (
Lamentations 1:3). He said to them:
I am king. They read to him:
“The ways of Zion do mourn” (
Lamentations 1:4). He said to them:
I am king. These are the four leaves, or verses, that he read first.
They read him an additional verse:
“Her adversaries have become the chief” (
Lamentations 1:5), i.e., the reigning king will be removed from power. Once he heard this,
he said to them: Who said this? They said to him: This is the continuation of the verse:
“For the Lord has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions” (
Lamentations 1:5).
Immediately, he cut out all the names of God
from the book
and burned them in fire. This is as it is written: “Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words” (
Jeremiah 36:24).
