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Atomic Bible
Jeremiah

Chapter 26

A Warning to the Cities of Judah and more

Jeremiah 26 returns to the temple setting and shows the cost of speaking faithfully in Judah's final years. After Jeremiah warns that the temple and city may become like Shiloh if the people refuse to repent, priests, prophets, and crowds call for his death; yet the officials and elders remember an earlier precedent from Micah's day, and the chapter closes by contrasting Jeremiah's preservation with the execution of the prophet Uriah.

This chapter dramatizes the conflict between prophetic truth and religious-political power. It reveals that repentance is still genuinely offered, but it also shows how quickly temple confidence can become violent resistance when God's word threatens cherished institutions.

4 sections·709 words·~3 min read

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Jeremiah 26

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vv. 1-6

A Warning to the Cities of Judah

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A1t 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.

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.’”

vv. 7-15

Jeremiah Threatened with Death

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N7ow 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!” 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!”

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. 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.”

vv. 16-19

Jeremiah Spared from Death

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T16hen 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!” 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: 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!”

vv. 20-24

The Prophet Uriah

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N20ow 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.

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  1. 01vv. 1-6A Warning to the Cities of JudahAt the start of Jehoiakim's reign, the LORD sends Jeremiah to stand in the temple courts and speak every word commanded to all Judah's worshipers without omission. The warning is severe but still open-ended: perhaps they will turn, and the LORD will relent; but if they refuse His law and the prophets, the temple will become like Shiloh and Jerusalem a curse among the nations.
  2. 02vv. 7-15Jeremiah Threatened with DeathPriests, prophets, and people hear Jeremiah's words in the temple and respond with fury the moment he finishes. They seize him, accuse him of prophesying treason against temple and city, and demand death before the officials, but Jeremiah insists that the LORD sent him and urges the people to amend their ways, warning that killing him would mean shedding innocent blood.
  3. 03vv. 16-19Jeremiah Spared from DeathThe officials and the people conclude that Jeremiah does not deserve death because he has spoken in the name of the LORD. Elders of the land then recall Micah's prophecy from Hezekiah's days: though Micah announced Zion's ruin, Hezekiah feared the LORD and sought His favor, and the disaster was averted, so putting Jeremiah to death would bring great harm upon the nation.
  4. 04vv. 20-24The Prophet UriahThe chapter ends with a second prophetic case that casts Jeremiah's rescue in sobering contrast. Uriah prophesied the same things as Jeremiah, but when Jehoiakim sought his life he fled to Egypt; the king had him extradited, executed, and buried dishonorably, while Jeremiah survives only because Ahikam son of Shaphan protects him from being handed over to the crowd.
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