.26:1-24.

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Jer 26:1-34:22 PROPHECIES OF EXILE AND RETURN

The dangerous life of a prophet (Jer 26:1-24)

Again Jeremiah went to the temple, where he could preach to people who came from all over Judah to worship. He stood in the open court and urged the worshippers to give up their sinful ways and return to God (Jer 26:1-3).

If they refused, the temple would be demolished, as the tabernacle had been at Shiloh several centuries earlier (Jer 26:4-6; see notes on Jer 7:1-15; cf. also Jer 19:14-20:6).

Religious officials and ordinary citizens alike were so angered at Jeremiah’s words that a riot threatened to develop and Jeremiah was in serious physical danger (Jer 26:7-9).

When the city officials rushed to the temple to intervene in the crisis, the leaders among the crowd demanded that Jeremiah be executed (Jer 26:10-11).

Jeremiah defended himself by pointing out that he had only been speaking the message God gave him. His real desire was that the people repent, for only by such action would they save themselves and their temple from destruction (Jer 26:12-15).

The city officials accepted his defence (Jer 26:16).

Other respected leaders supported them, adding that instead of trying to kill the prophet, people should take notice of his warnings. If they changed their ways, they would save themselves from disaster. In this they would be following the good example of a former Judean king, Hezekiah, who heeded the prophet of his day (Jer 26:17-19; cf. Micah 3:12).

Although Jeremiah on this occasion escaped death, another prophet who spoke a similar message did not. This man, Uriah, had heard of a threat to his life and fled to Egypt, but the wicked Jehoiakim had him brought back to Jerusalem and executed (Jer 26:20-23).

Jeremiah received some protection at this dangerous time through the loyalty of an influential friend, Ahikam (Jer 26:24).

(Ahikam seems to have been an important palace official. He had been a key man in the launching of Josiah’s reforms; see 2 Kings 22:11-14.)