A Warning to the Cities of Judah
Jeremiah went on trial in front of the...
Jeremiah went on trial in front of the priests and prophets. The trial focused on the Temple's holiness because Jeremiah said the Lord would destroy both the Temple and Jerusalem.
1At 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 house of the LORD and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship there. Do not omit a word. 3Perhaps they will listen and turn—each from his evil way of life—so that I may relent of the disaster I am planning to bring upon them because of the evil of their deeds.
The ancestors of the people chose disobedience, which...
The ancestors of the people chose disobedience, which led to the destruction of their sanctuary at Shiloh, north of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 7:12–15; 1 Samuel 1–4). In the same way, if the people in Jeremiah's time continued to disobey the covenant commands, the Temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed.
4And you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘If you do not listen to Me and walk in My law, which I have set before you, 5and if you do not listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent you again and again† even though you did not listen, 6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’”
Jeremiah Threatened with Death
The crowd at the Temple wanted to kill...
The crowd at the Temple wanted to kill Jeremiah for blasphemy because he spoke against the Temple. This charge carried the death penalty (Leviticus 24:16). The prophet's opponents argued that the Lord's holy Temple could not be destroyed. The priests and prophets believed the pagan idea that temples were indestructible because gods lived in them.
7Now the priests and prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD, 8and as soon as he had finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people seized him, shouting, “You must surely die! 9How dare you prophesy in the name of the LORD that this house will become like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted!” And all the people assembled against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Court trials usually took place at a city...
Court trials usually took place at a city gateway. At this time, city gateways were covered and had multiple chambers. This location was busy with city commerce. The city elders gathered here to offer their wisdom on legal conflicts. In this case, the officials were fair and allowed each party to present its side of the dispute.
10When the officials of Judah heard these things, they went up from the king’s palace to the house of the LORD and sat there at the entrance of the New Gate.
11Then the priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man is worthy of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears!”
Jeremiah said the Lord sent him to speak...
Jeremiah said the Lord sent him to speak against the city and the Temple. He added that disaster would not happen if the people of Jerusalem obeyed the Lord.
12But Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, so that He might relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you.
Jeremiah calmly accepted the authority and trusted the...
Jeremiah calmly accepted the authority and trusted the officials with his life. However, he warned them they would be responsible if they killed an innocent man.
14As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right. 15But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”
Jeremiah Spared from Death
16Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man is not worthy of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God!”
In the ancient Near East, societies greatly respected...
In the ancient Near East, societies greatly respected wise old men. Few people lived to old age, and those who did had valuable memories.
Micah of Moresheth lived during King Hezekiah's reign, from 728 to 686 BC, over 100 years earlier. Micah wrote a small collection of prophecies. The elders quoted a verse (Micah 3:12) predicting the destruction of Mount Zion and Jerusalem. These elders advised the people to follow Hezekiah's example by turning from sin and worshiping the Lord. Although the people of Judah decided not to harm Jeremiah, they ignored the second part of the elders' advice.
In the ancient Near East, societies greatly respected wise old men. Few people lived to old age, and those who did had valuable memories.
Micah of Moresheth lived during King Hezekiah's reign, from 728 to 686 BC, over 100 years earlier. Micah wrote a small collection of prophecies. The elders quoted a verse (Micah 3:12) predicting the destruction of Mount Zion and Jerusalem. These elders advised the people to follow Hezekiah's example by turning from sin and worshiping the Lord. Although the people of Judah decided not to harm Jeremiah, they ignored the second part of the elders' advice.
17Some of the elders of the land stood up and said to the whole assembly of the people, 18“Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says:
‘Zion will be plowed like a field,Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,and the temple mount a wooded ridge.’†19Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did Hezekiah not fear the LORD and seek His favor, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster He had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”
The Prophet Uriah
20Now there was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land the same things that Jeremiah did.† 21King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt.
22Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor along with some other men. 23They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him put to the sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.
24Nevertheless, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.