Z F 1-6. Jeremiah's mission.
G H 7-9. Opposition.
J 10,11. Defense. Princes.
F 12-15. Jeremiah's message.
G H 16-23. Contention.
J 24. Defense. Ahikam.
F s 1,2. Yahaveh's house. Message.
t 3-. Obedience.
u -3. Promise.
t 4.5. Disobedience.
s 6. Yahaveh's house. Prophecy.
489 B.C.
Jeremiah 26)
1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim (i.e. before the siege, in the 3rd year of Jehoiakim. The 2nd half of the book of Jeremiah starts here) the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD (Yahaveh), saying,
2 "Thus says the LORD; 'Stand in the court of the LORD'S house (this was Jeremiah's most public utterance. Cp. 7:2), and speak to all the cities (put for the inhabitants) of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command you to speak to them; diminish not a word: (See Deut. 4:2; 13:32. The importance of this is seen from v.18.)
3 If so be they will hearken, 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 And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD; 'If you will not hearken to Me (see Lev. 26:14. Deut. 28:15), to walk in My law (see Ex. 20), which I have set before you,
5 To hearken to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I sent to you, even rising up early, and sending them, but you have not hearkened; (See 7:13.)
6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh (see 7:12), and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.' ' ' " (Cp. 29:22.)
7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, "You shall surely die. (This was in accordance with Deut. 18:20, as they would not believe that Yehovah could send such a message. A ref. to Gen. 2:17. Jeremiah's danger was very real. Cp. vv.20-24.)
9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, 'This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant?' " And all the people (put for most of the people) were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house to the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate (the east gate) of the LORD'S house.
11 Then spake the priests and the prophets to the princes and to all the people, saying, "Death's judgment is for this man (judgment put for the effect of it : viz. the sentence of death. Cp. John 3:19); for he has prophesied against this city, according 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 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and listen to the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent Him of the evil that He has pronounced against you.
14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seems good and necessary to you.
15 But know you for certain, that if you put me to death, you shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves (see Deut. 19:10,13. Cp. Matt. 27:4,25. Luke 23:13-15), and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."
G K 16,17. Defenders. Princes.
L v 18. Case of Micah.
w 19. Conduct of Hezekiah.
L v 20. Case of Urijah.
w 21-23. Conduct of Jehoiakim.
K 24. Defender. Ahikam.
16 Then said the princes and all the people to the priests and to the prophets; "This man is not worthy to die: for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God."
17 Then rose up men (some better acquainted with affairs than others) of the elders of the land, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying,
18 "Micah the Morasthite (the prophet whose book is called after his name. Contemporary with Hosea and Amos in Israel, and with Israel in Judah) prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts; 'Zion shall be plowed like 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 at all to death? did he not fear the LORD Himself, and appeased the face the LORD, and the LORD repented Him (see Ex. 32:14) of the evil which He had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.
20 But (said in reply to the friends of Jeremiah by his adversaries) there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah (this incident is not recorded in the historical books, but it illustrates v.5) the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim (now Khan 'Erma, or Kuriel el'Enab, 4 miles west of the hill overlooking Beth-shemesh, and about 20 miles from Jerusalem), who 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 Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;
22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan (see 36:12,25) the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.
23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword (cp. Heb. 11:37), and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people (Heb. sons of the people)."
24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam (the father of Gedaliah, who, when appointed governor by Nebuchadnezzar, stood as the friend of Jeremiah. For a son of Ahikam also befriending Jeremiah, see 40:6) the son of Shaphan (see 2 Kings 22:3. See 33:10 for another son; 29:3 for another son. Also befriending Jeremiah.) was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.