Jer 45.1-5 is a personal prophecy to Baruch the son of Neriah from Yehovah He was overwhelmed by it all and assured that he would have his life spared after sharing in the overall misery. This is chronologically after Jer 36.1-8.
v 1…This is the message which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah when he had written down these words (not what was just dealt with about the destruction of of the Jews in Egypt, but the prophecies that Jeremiah had given up to the fourth year of Yehoiakim, about eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem; because it was written as a personal prophecy it was put off from Jer 36 and added later) in a book at Jeremiah’s dictation, in the fourth year of Yehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (this gives us a time reference, saying,
v 2…’Thus says the Lord (Yehovah) the God (Elohay) of Israel to you, O Baruch (Jeremiah had high regard for him);
v 3…’You said, “Ah, woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain (an abundance to it; fear upon fear)’ I am weary with my groaning and have found no rest (on top of all the bad news prophecies, he is being sought by the king to be put to death).”
v 4…”Thus you are to to say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, what I have built (the land, the people, the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, etc) I am about to tear down (give it over to destruction), and what I have planted I am about to uproot (Israel as his vineyard), that is, the whole land (not just a few cities but all of Judah).”
v 5…’But you, are you seeking great things for yourself (riches, esteem, peace)? Do not seek them (because the whole land is going to be devastated); for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh (he is going to have to share in the overall misery of it all; eschatologically this alludes to the birth-pains as well),’ declares the Lord, ‘but I will give your life to you as booty in all the places where you may go (he will lose everything, but his life will be spared; this was said to him to console him; Jeremiah felt the same way once-Jer 12.1-5, 15.10-18).'”
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