Brother of support = helper, one of the five whom Josiah sent to consult the prophetess Huldah in connection with the discovery of the book of the law ([2 Kings 22:12-14](/2kgs#2Kgs.22.12); [2 Chr. 34:20](/2chr#2Chr.34.20)). He was the son of Shaphan, the royal secretary, and the father of Gedaliah, governor of Judea after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians ([2 Kings 25:22](/2kgs#2Kgs.25.22); [Jer. 40:5-16](/jer#Jer.40.5); [43:6](/jer#Jer.43.6)). On one occasion he protected Jeremiah against the fury of Jehoiakim ([Jer. 26:24](/jer#Jer.26.24)). It was in the chamber of another son (Germariah) of Shaphan that Baruch read in the ears of all the people Jeremiah’s roll.