Jeremiah 26:20-24·~1 min

The Prophet Uriah

Another prophet, Uriah son of Shemaiah, proclaimed the same message against Jerusalem and Judah. When Jehoiakim sought to kill him, Uriah fled to Egypt, but the king sent men to retrieve him, had him put to the sword, and cast his body among the common dead; Jeremiah, however, is preserved because Ahikam supports him and prevents the people from putting him to death.

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.

Section summaryThe 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.

Role in the chapterThis section prevents Jeremiah's deliverance from being read as normal or secure by showing how easily faithful prophecy could still end in death.