Jeremiah 26

Jeremiah Threatened with Death

1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord:2 "Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.3 It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.4 You shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you,5 and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened,6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.'"

7 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord.8 And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, "You shall die!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 inhabitant'?" And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the Lord and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord.11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, "This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears."

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, "The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard.13 Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you.14 But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you.15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."

Jeremiah Spared from Death

16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God."17 And certain of the elders of the land arose and spoke to all the assembled people, saying,

18 "Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: 'Thus says the Lord of hosts,
"'Zion shall be plowed as a field;
Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,
and the mountain of the house a wooded height.'

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord, and did not the Lord relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves."

20 There was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah.21 And when King Jehoiakim, with all his warriors and all the officials, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt.22 Then King Jehoiakim sent to Egypt certain men, Elnathan the son of Achbor and others with him,23 and they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and dumped his dead body into the burial place of the common people.

24 But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.

Jeremiah 26

Jeremiah Is Put on Trial as a False Prophet

1 The Lord spoke to Jeremiaht at the beginning of the reignt of Josiah’s son, King Jehoiakim of Judah.2 The Lord said, “Go stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.s Speak out to all the people who are coming from the towns of Judah to worship in the Lord’s temple. Tell them everything I command you to tell them. Do not leave out a single word!3 Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do.t If they do that, then I will forgo destroying themts as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing.t4 Tell them that the Lord says,t ‘You must obey me! You must live according to the way I have instructed you in my laws.ts5 You must pay attention to the exhortations of my servants the prophets. I have sent them to you over and over again.t But you have not paid any attention to them.

6 If you do not obey me,t then I will do to this temple what I did to Shiloh.s And I will make this city an example to be used in curses by people from all the nations on the earth.’”
7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah say these things in the Lord’s temple.8 Jeremiah had just barely finished saying all the Lord had commanded him to say to all the people. All at once somet of the priests, the prophets, and the people grabbed him and shouted, “You deserve to die!t

9 How dare you claim the Lord’s authority to prophesy such things! How dare you claim his authority to prophesy that this temple will become like Shiloh and that this city will become an uninhabited ruin!”ts Then all the people crowded around Jeremiah.
10 However, some of the officialss of Judah heard about what was happeningt and they rushed up to the Lord’s temple from the royal palace. They set up courtts at the entrance of the New Gate of the Lord’s temple.ts

11 Then the priests and the prophets made their charges before the officials and all the people. They said,t “This man should be condemned to diet because he prophesied against this city. You have heard him do sot with your own ears.”
12 Then Jeremiah made his defense before all the officials and all the people.t “The Lord sent me to prophesy everything you have heard me say against this temple and against this city.13 But correct the way you have been living and do what is right.t Obey the Lord your God. If you do, the Lord will forgo destroying you as he threatened he would.ts14 As to my case, I am in your power.t Do to me what you deem fair and proper.

15 But you should take careful note of this: If you put me to death, you will bring on yourselves and this city and those who live in it the guilt of murdering an innocent man. For the Lord has sent me to speak all this where you can hear it. That is the truth!”t
16 Then the officials and all the people rendered their verdict to the priests and the prophets. They said,t “This man should not be condemned to die.s For he has spoken to us under the authority of the Lord our God.”ts17 Then some of the elders of Judahts stepped forward and spoke to all the people gathered there. They said,

18 “Micah from Moresheths prophesied during the time Hezekiah was king of Judah.s He told all the people of Judah,
‘The Lord who rules over allts says,
“Zions will become a plowed field.
Jerusalems will become a pile of rubble.
The temple mount will become a mere wooded ridge.”’s

19 King Hezekiah and all the people of Judah did not put him to death, did they? Did not Hezekiah show reverence for the Lord and seek the Lord’s favor?t Did nott the Lord forgo destroying themt as he threatened he would? But we are on the verge of bringing great disaster on ourselves.”t
20 Now there was another mans who prophesied as the Lord’s representativet against this city and this land just as Jeremiah did. His name was Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim.t21 When the king and all his bodyguardst and officials heard what he was prophesying,t the king sought to have him executed. But Uriah found out about it and fled to Egypt out of fear.t22 However, King Jehoiakim sent some men to Egypt, including Elnathan son of Achbor,s

23 and they brought Uriah back from there.ts They took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him executed and had his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.s

24 However, Ahikam son of Shaphans used his influence to keep Jeremiah from being handed over and executed by the people.t