5. Seek them not. No earthly success could be as important to Baruch as the work God desired him to do. Each one has a place in God’s great plan which only he can fill.
Thy life will I give. God comforts Baruch, the scribe, with the promise that He will be merciful to him. In marked contrast with the divine vengeance and retribution that would descend upon the “whole land” of Judea ( 4) and the evil that would come “upon all flesh” by reason of the Babylonian invasion (2 Kings 25), Baruch’s life would be protected by God. Most of those whose success and position Baruch envied would have no such assurance, but would perish miserably in the destruction of Jerusalem.
For a prey. See on 39:18.
In all places. These words seemingly indicate that Baruch’s future would be one of wandering and exile. We do know that he went down to Egypt (see 43:5-7). Tradition has it that he died either in Egypt or in Babylon.