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Jeremiah Escapes Death

26 At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, this word came from Yahweh, saying,[a] “Thus says Yahweh: ‘Stand in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh, and you must speak to all the cities of Judah that come to bow in worship in the house of Yahweh all the words that I command you to speak to them. You must not omit a word. Perhaps they will listen and turn back each from his evil way, and I will relent of the disaster that I am planning to do to them because of their evil deeds. And you shall say to them, “Thus says Yahweh: ‘If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set[b] before you,[c] to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I have sent to you, over and over again,[d] though you have not listened, then I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse for all the nations of the earth.’”’”

And the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the temple of Yahweh. And then[e] as Jeremiah finished speaking all that Yahweh had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying,[f] “You will die! Why have you prophesied in the name of Yahweh, saying,[g] ‘This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be in ruins, without[h] inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the temple of Yahweh.

10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the house of the king to the temple of Yahweh, and they sat in the entrance of the New Gate of Yahweh’s temple. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, saying,[i]This man deserves the death sentence,[j] because he has prophesied against this city as that which you have heard with your ears.”

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and to all the people, saying,[k] “Yahweh sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13 Now therefore[l] amend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of Yahweh your God, and Yahweh will relent of the disaster that he has spoken over you. 14 But as for me, look, I am in your hand, do to me what is good and right in your eyes. 15 Only you must certainly know that if you put me to death, you will bring on yourselves innocent blood, and on this city and on its inhabitants, for truly[m] Yahweh sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “This man does not deserve[n] a sentence of death, for in the name of Yahweh our God, he has spoken to us.” 17 Then men from the elders of the land arose and said to all the assembly of the people, saying,[o] 18 “Micah the Morashtite was prophesying in the days of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and he said to all the people of Judah, saying:[p]

‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts,
“Zion will be plowed,
and Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,
and the mountain of the temple[q] as high places of wood.”’

19 Did Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and all Judah actually put him to death? Was he not in fear of Yahweh? And he entreated the face of Yahweh, and Yahweh relented of the disaster that he had spoken against them. But we are about to do great disaster to ourselves.”

20 Indeed, there also was a man prophesying in the name of Yahweh, Uriah, the son of Shemaiah, from Kiriath-Jearim, and he prophesied against this city and against this land like all the words of Jeremiah. 21 And when King Jehoiakim, and all his warriors, and all the officials heard his words, then the king sought to put him to death. But Uriah heard, and he was afraid, and he fled and went to Egypt. 22 Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt. Elnathan, the son of Achbor, and men with him went to Egypt. 23 And they brought out Uriah from Egypt and they brought him to King Jehoiakim, and he struck him down with the sword, and he threw his dead body into the burial sites of the sons of the people. 24 However, the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not given into the hand of the people to put him to death.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 26:1 Literally “to say”
  2. Jeremiah 26:4 Or “given”
  3. Jeremiah 26:4 Literally “to the face of you”
  4. Jeremiah 26:5 Literally “and doing early and sending”
  5. Jeremiah 26:8 Literally “And it happened”
  6. Jeremiah 26:8 Literally “to say”
  7. Jeremiah 26:9 Literally “to say”
  8. Jeremiah 26:9 Literally “from there is not”
  9. Jeremiah 26:11 Literally “to say”
  10. Jeremiah 26:11 Literally “A sentence of death is to this man”
  11. Jeremiah 26:12 Literally “to say”
  12. Jeremiah 26:13 Literally “so then”
  13. Jeremiah 26:15 Literally “in truth”
  14. Jeremiah 26:16 Literally “Not to this man”
  15. Jeremiah 26:17 Literally “to say”
  16. Jeremiah 26:18 Literally “to say”
  17. Jeremiah 26:18 Literally “house”

Jeremiah Threatened With Death

26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim(A) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard(B) of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord.(C) Tell(D) them everything I command you; do not omit(E) a word. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn(F) from their evil ways. Then I will relent(G) and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen(H) to me and follow my law,(I) which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened(J)), then I will make this house like Shiloh(K) and this city a curse[a](L) among all the nations of the earth.’”

The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded(M) him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized(N) him and said, “You must die!(O) Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?”(P) And all the people crowded(Q) around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 When the officials(R) of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate(S) of the Lord’s house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death(T) because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”(U)

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials(V) and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy(W) against this house and this city all the things you have heard.(X) 13 Now reform(Y) your ways and your actions and obey(Z) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent(AA) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands;(AB) do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood(AC) on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words(AD) in your hearing.”

16 Then the officials(AE) and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death!(AF) He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

17 Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, 18 “Micah(AG) of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“‘Zion(AH) will be plowed like a field,
    Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,(AI)
    the temple hill(AJ) a mound overgrown with thickets.’[b](AK)

19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah(AL) fear the Lord and seek(AM) his favor? And did not the Lord relent,(AN) so that he did not bring the disaster(AO) he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster(AP) on ourselves!”

20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim(AQ) was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim(AR) and all his officers and officials(AS) heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death.(AT) But Uriah heard of it and fled(AU) in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan(AV) son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword(AW) and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)(AX)

24 Furthermore, Ahikam(AY) son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 26:6 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
  2. Jeremiah 26:18 Micah 3:12