Jeremiah 26

A warning in the temple

1At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD: 2“The LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD. Speak to the people of all Judah's towns who come to worship at the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I command you to say. Do not leave out a word. 3Perhaps they will listen and turn back, each from their evil way. Then I will relent from the disaster I intend to bring on them because of their evil deeds. 4Tell them: ‘The LORD says: If you will not listen to me and follow the instruction I have set before you, 5or listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I keep sending to you again and again—though you have not listened— 6then I will make this house like Shiloh and make this city a curse among all the nations of the earth.’”

A demand for Jeremiah’s death

7The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the LORD. 8When Jeremiah finished saying everything the LORD had commanded him to say to all the people, the priests, the prophets, and all the people seized him. “You must die!” they said. 9“Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD that this house will become like Shiloh and this city will be ruined and uninhabited?” All the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. 10When Judah's officials heard about this, they came up from the royal palace to the house of the LORD and took their seats at the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD's house.

11The priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man deserves a death sentence! He has prophesied against this city, as you heard with your own ears.” 12Jeremiah answered all the officials and all the people: “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. 13Now put your ways and your deeds right. Listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will relent from the disaster he has announced against you. 14As for me, here I am in your hands. Do to me whatever seems good and right to you. 15But know this for certain: if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, this city, and its inhabitants. For the LORD truly sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”

An earlier warning remembered

16Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man does not deserve a death sentence. He has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.” 17Some of the elders of the land stood up and addressed the whole assembly of the people: 18“Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘The LORD of hosts says:
Zion will be plowed like a field;
Jerusalem will become heaps of rubble,
and the temple hill a wooded height.’ 19Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and seek the favor of the LORD, so that the LORD relented from the disaster he had announced against them? We are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”

Uriah’s death and Jeremiah’s protection

20There was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD: Uriah son of Shemaiah, from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and this land in words like Jeremiah's. 21King Jehoiakim, all his warriors, and all his officials heard his words, and the king sought to kill him. When Uriah heard about it, he became afraid, fled, and went to Egypt. 22King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt—Elnathan son of Achbor and other men with him. 23They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim. The king struck him down with the sword and threw his body into the graves of the common people. 24But Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.