Jeremiah 26

Jeremiah’s Temple Sermon

1 At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD:

2 “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’s house and speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship. Tell them everything I command you, do not hold back a word.”

3 “Maybe they will listen and each turn from his evil way. Then I will relent of the disaster I plan to bring on them because of their evil deeds.”

4 “Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: If you will not listen to Me by following My law which I set before you?”

5 “and by listening to My servants the prophets whom I have sent to you again and again, but you have not listened,”

6 “then I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city a curse among all the nations of the earth.’”

The Priests and Prophets Demand Jeremiah’s Death

7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the LORD’s house.

8 But as soon as Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD commanded, the priests, prophets, and all the people seized him, saying, “You must die!”

9 “Why have you prophesied in the LORD’s name that this house will become like Shiloh and that this city will be desolate and uninhabited?” And all the people gathered against Jeremiah at the LORD’s house.

Jeremiah’s Defense

10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came from the king’s house to the LORD’s temple and sat in judgment.

11 Then the priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man deserves death because he has prophesied against this city as you have heard.”

12 But Jeremiah said to the officials and all the people, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard.”

13 “So now, change your ways and your actions and obey the LORD your God. Then the LORD will relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you.”

14 “As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever seems good and right to you.”

15 “But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, this city, and those who live in it, For the LORD truly sent me to you to speak all these words.”

The Officials Protect Jeremiah

16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and prophets, “This man does not deserve death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”

17 Some of the elders of the land stood up and spoke to the entire assembly:

18 “In the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, the prophet Micah of Moresheth prophesied: ‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become ruins, and the temple mount a forested hill.’”

19 “Did Hezekiah or anyone else put Micah to death, Did he not fear the LORD and seek His favor, And did not the LORD relent of the disaster He said would come, We are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”

The Example of Uriah

20 (Another man prophesied in the LORD’s name, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied the same things against this city and land as Jeremiah did.)

21 King Jehoiakim and his warriors and officials heard his words, and the king sought to kill him. But Uriah heard about it, fled to Egypt, and hid there.

22 Then King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan son of Achbor and others to Egypt.

23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with the sword and threw his body into the burial place of the common people.

Jeremiah Is Spared

24 But Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah and kept him from being handed over to the people to be put to death.