Jeremiah26

In the early reign of King Jehoiakim, Jeremiah prophesies the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem if the people do not repent. Priests, prophets, and the people demand his death, but Jeremiah defends his divine commission. The princes and people ultimately spare him, recalling King Hezekiah's repentance after Micah's prophecy, though the tragic fate of Urijah serves as a grim counter-example.

Jeremiah's Temple Sermon

1
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this word from the LORD, saying, ​
2
Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them; don’t diminish a word. ​
3
It may be they will listen, and turn every man from his evil way; that I may repent me of the evil which I purpose to do to them because of the evil of their doings. ​
4
You shall tell them, Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
5
to listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send to you, even rising up early and sending them, but you have not listened;
6
then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. ​

The Demand for Jeremiah's Death

7
The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the LORD’s house. ​
8
When Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You shall surely die.” ​
9
Why have you prophesied in the LORD’s name, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant? All the people were gathered to Jeremiah in the LORD’s house.

Jeremiah's Defense Before the Court

10
When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the LORD’s house; and they sat in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s house. ​
11
Then spoke the priests and the prophets to the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy of death; for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.
12
Then spoke Jeremiah to all the princes and to all the people, saying, the LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. ​
13
Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the LORD your God’s voice; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he has pronounced against you.
14
But as for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as is good and right in your eyes.
15
Only know for certain that, if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city, and on its inhabitants; for of a truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears. ​

The Verdict and Historical Precedent

16
Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets: This man is not worthy of death; for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God. ​
17
Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying,
18
Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus says the LORD of Hosts: Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest. ​
19
Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Didn’t he fear the LORD, and entreat the favor of the LORD, and the LORD relented of the disaster which he had pronounced against them? Thus should we commit great evil against our own souls. ​

The Execution of Urijah

20
There was also a man who prophesied in the LORD’s name, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath Jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah: ​
21
and when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt:
22
and Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him, into Egypt;
23
and they fetched Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. ​
24
But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death. ​

Study Notes for Jeremiah 26

Verse 1

The chapter is dated to the beginning of Jehoiakim’s reign (c. 609 BC), a time when the king had reversed his father Josiah’s reforms and favored an anti-Babylonian, pro-Egyptian policy. This prophecy challenged the false security of the Temple.

Verse 2

The Temple court was the most public place for the delivery of prophecy. The command to 'diminish not a word' emphasizes the seriousness of the message and Jeremiah’s faithfulness as a messenger.

Verse 3

God's willingness to 'repent' (change course) demonstrates that the judgment is conditional upon the people's response, highlighting divine mercy even within the pronouncements of doom.

Verse 6

The threat is to make the Jerusalem Temple 'like Shiloh,' the site where the Ark of the Covenant rested before the monarchy, which was destroyed by the Philistines (1 Sam 4). This comparison was seen as blasphemy by the Temple-focused populace.

Verse 7

The opposition includes the 'priests and the prophets'—the religious establishment who profited from the current Temple structure and rejected the possibility of its destruction.

Verse 8

The charge against Jeremiah was likely treason or blasphemy, as his prophecy undermined the popular belief that God would never allow His dwelling place (the Temple) to be destroyed.

Verse 10

The arrival of the 'princes of Judah' (royal officials) shifts the confrontation from a mob action led by the religious officials to a formal legal proceeding.

Verse 12

Jeremiah refuses to recant, asserting his authority not from himself but directly from the LORD. He maintains the integrity of his divine commission.

Verse 15

Jeremiah warns his judges that if they execute him, they will bring the curse of 'innocent blood' upon the city, ensuring the very destruction they were attempting to prevent.

Verse 16

The secular authorities (the princes and people) sided with Jeremiah, recognizing that true prophecy, even of doom, was spoken in the name of God and not automatically punishable by death.

Verse 18

The elders cite the prophet Micah (Micah 3:12), who prophesied the destruction of Zion during the reign of good King Hezekiah. This established a legal precedent for accepting prophecies of doom.

Verse 19

The key argument for acquittal: Hezekiah responded with humility and repentance, leading God to withdraw the judgment. Therefore, the goal is repentance, not execution.

Verse 20

This narrative serves as a powerful historical contrast to the Micah/Hezekiah precedent, illustrating that King Jehoiakim was actively persecuting and killing prophets, confirming the danger Jeremiah faced.

Verse 23

Jehoiakim’s execution of Urijah and the disposal of his body in the 'graves of the common people' demonstrate the king's brutality and contempt for the prophetic office.

Verse 24

Ahikam, son of Shaphan, was a powerful court official whose family had protected prophets previously (2 Kings 22:3). His political influence was crucial in securing Jeremiah’s acquittal and safety from the mob.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options