Baruch’s Prayers for Divine Mercy on Israel

Second Baruch includes a series of revelations in which God tells Baruch about the end times, when the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked punished. Several of these revelations are preceded by seven-day fasts. After the last of these fasts, Baruch prays that God have mercy on Israel and protect them, appealing to God’s infinite wisdom and knowledge. After the final revelation, Baruch responds with a prayer of gratitude and admonition. In keeping with his visions, he affirms the promise of rebirth at the end of time for those who subject themselves to God’s will and punishment for those who do not.