Jeremiah is Arrested
26 In the beginning of the reign of Josiah’s son Jehoiakim, king of Judah, this message came from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple and tell those from all the cities[a] of Judah who are coming to worship at the Lord’s Temple everything that I’ve commanded you to say to them. Don’t leave out a word! 3 Perhaps they’ll listen, and each of them will repent from his evil way. Then I’ll change my mind about the disaster I’m planning to bring on[b] them because of their evil deeds. 4 Say to them, “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you don’t listen to me to follow my Law which I’ve set before you, 5 and listen to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom I’ve sent to you over and over[c]—but you wouldn’t listen— 6 then I’ll make this house like Shiloh and make this city into a curse to all the nations of the earth.’”’”
Jeremiah Threatened with Death
7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people listened as Jeremiah spoke these words at the Lord’s Temple. 8 As soon as Jeremiah finished saying everything that the Lord had commanded him to say to all the people, the priests, the prophets, and all the people seized him, telling him as they did: “You must certainly die! 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord that this house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be without an inhabitant?” Then all the people gathered around Jeremiah at the Lord’s Temple.
10 When the Judean officials[d] heard all these things, they came up from the king’s house to the Lord’s Temple and sat in the doorway of the New Gate of the Lord’s Temple.[e] 11 The priests and prophets told the officials and all the people, “A death sentence for this man, because he prophesied against this city, as you heard with your own ears!”
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people: “The Lord has sent me to prophesy all the things you heard against this house and against this city. 13 Now, change your habits[f] and your deeds and obey the Lord your God, and the Lord will change his mind about the disaster that he told you about. 14 Look, I’m in your hands, so do with me what you think is good and right. 15 But know for certain that if you kill me, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and its residents because the Lord really did send me to you to say all these things for you to hear.”
The Elders Remember Micah’s Similar Message
16 The officials and all the people told the priests and the prophets, “No death sentence for this man because he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
17 Some of the elders of the land got up and told all the assembled people, 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign[g] of Hezekiah king of Judah to all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
“Zion will be a plowed field,
and Jerusalem a ruin.
The Temple Mount will be a wooded hill.”’[h]
19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone in Judah kill him? Didn’t he fear the Lord and seek the Lord’s favor, and so the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he had spoken to them about. We’re bringing great disaster on ourselves. 20 There was also a man named Uriah, Shemaiah’s son from Kiriath-jearim, who prophesied in the Lord’s name. He prophesied about this city and this land in words similar to those of Jeremiah. 21 King Jehoiakim, all his troops, and all the officials heard his words, and the king sought to kill him. Uriah heard about this and was afraid, so he fled and went to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt. He sent[i] Achbor’s son Elnathan, along with a contingent of men[j] into Egypt. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with a sword. Then they threw his body into a common grave.[k]”
24 Yet because Shaphan’s son Ahikam supported Jeremiah,[l] he was not handed over to the people for them to kill.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 26:2 Lit. speak to all the cities
- Jeremiah 26:3 Lit. do to
- Jeremiah 26:5 Lit. getting up early to send
- Jeremiah 26:10 Or princes
- Jeremiah 26:10 The Heb. lacks temple
- Jeremiah 26:13 Lit. ways
- Jeremiah 26:18 Lit. time
- Jeremiah 26:18 Or a wooded high place
- Jeremiah 26:22 The Heb. lacks He sent
- Jeremiah 26:22 Lit. Achbor and men with him
- Jeremiah 26:23 Lit. a grave of the sons of the people
- Jeremiah 26:24 Lit. the hand of Shaphan’s son Ahikam was with Jeremiah