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 saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
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 unto them because of the evil of their doings.
4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;
6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
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 unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.
9 Why hast thou 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 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 unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house.
11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.
12 Then spake Jeremiah unto 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 ye have heard.
13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.
14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.
15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
17 Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,
18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith 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, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.
20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, 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 the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.
23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
24 Nevertheless 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.
Chapter 26 of the Book of Jeremiah is a dramatic narrative, presenting us with a vivid picture of the prophet Jeremiah's life and ministry. It is a chapter full of tension, danger, and divine intervention. The main themes revolve around prophecy, divine judgment, repentance, and the power of prayer. It is a chapter that speaks about the courage to stand for truth and righteousness, regardless of the cost.
The chapter begins with God commanding Jeremiah to stand in the court of the Lord's house and speak to all the cities of Judah, who come to worship in the Lord's house. The message is clear and uncompromising: They must amend their ways and their doings, obey the voice of the Lord their God, in order that the Lord may repent of the evil that He has pronounced against them.
Jeremiah's message is a call to repentance. It is a plea for the people to turn away from their sinful ways and return to the Lord. The prophet is not speaking his own words, but the words of the Lord. He is simply a vessel through which the Lord is communicating His message to His people. This theme of repentance is central to the entire book of Jeremiah, and it is highlighted here in Chapter 26.
The reaction to Jeremiah's message is hostile. The priests, the prophets, and all the people seize him, saying he should be put to death. They do not want to hear the truth; they do not want to face the reality of their sin and the impending judgment of God. They prefer to live in denial, clinging to their false idols and their sinful practices.
But Jeremiah remains resolute. He stands his ground, telling them that the Lord has sent him to prophesy against the house and the city. He urges them to amend their ways and their doings, and to obey the voice of the Lord their God. He tells them that the Lord has sent him to deliver this message, and if they put him to death, they will bring innocent blood upon themselves, upon the city, and upon its inhabitants.
Jeremiah is then put on trial. The princes of Judah hear about what has happened, and they come up from the king's house to the house of the Lord and sit in judgment at the new gate of the Lord's house. The priests and the prophets present their case against Jeremiah, accusing him of prophesying against the city and calling for his death.
But Jeremiah defends himself, reiterating that the Lord has sent him to prophesy all the words that they have heard. He tells them to amend their ways and their doings, and to listen to the voice of the Lord their God, so that the Lord may repent of the evil that He has pronounced against them. He tells them that he is in their hands, and they can do with him what seems good and right to them. But he warns them that if they put him to death, they will bring innocent blood upon themselves and upon the city.
The princes and all the people then declare Jeremiah innocent. They acknowledge that he has spoken in the name of the Lord their God. They recognize that it is not their place to judge a prophet of the Lord. They understand that if they put Jeremiah to death, they would be shedding innocent blood.
The chapter then introduces us to another prophet, Urijah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim, who prophesied against the city and the land in the same words as Jeremiah. King Jehoiakim, with all his warriors and all the princes, sought to put him to death. Urijah fled to Egypt, but King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt, brought Urijah from there, and killed him with the sword.
The chapter concludes with the note that Ahikam son of Shaphan protected Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death. It is a testament to the power of divine protection and the importance of having righteous allies in times of crisis.
The significance of Chapter 26 of the book of Jeremiah lies in its powerful depiction of the prophet's courage, faith, and commitment to the truth. It is a lesson in standing up for what is right, even in the face of great opposition and danger. It is a reminder that God's prophets are not immune to persecution and suffering, but they are also not alone. God is with them, guiding them, protecting them, and using them to fulfill His divine purposes.
The chapter also underscores the importance of repentance. It is a call to turn away from sin and return to the Lord. It is a warning about the consequences of persisting in sin and rejecting the word of the Lord. It is a message of hope, offering the possibility of divine mercy and forgiveness to those who heed the call to repentance.
Chapter 26 of the book of Jeremiah is a powerful and moving narrative, full of drama, tension, and divine intervention. It is a testament to the courage and faith of God's prophets, and a call to repentance and righteousness. It is a chapter that speaks to us today, challenging us to stand up for truth and righteousness, to turn away from sin and return to the Lord, and to trust in God's divine protection and guidance.
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