Jeremiah's Temple Address, Arrest, and Vindication
Jeremiah 26:1-24
1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying,2Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the house of the LORD and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship at the house of the LORD all the words that I commanded you to speak to them; do not omit a word.3Perhaps they will listen and each one turn from his evil way so that I may relent concerning the disaster I am planning to bring on them because of the evil of their deeds.4And say to them: Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me by walking according to my law that I set before you,5By listening to the words of my servants the prophets whom I am sending to you, rising early and sending, though you did not listen.6Then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city I will make a curse among all the nations of the earth.7The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.8When Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, "You shall surely die."9Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, "This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be destroyed so that no one dwells in it?" And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.10When the officials of Judah heard these words they came up from the king's house to the house of the LORD and sat at the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD.11Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, "This man deserves death because he has prophesied against this city as you have heard."12Jeremiah said to all the officials and to all the people, "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words that you have heard."13Now amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the LORD your God so that the LORD may relent concerning the disaster he has pronounced against you.14As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever seems good and right in your eyes.15Only know for certain that if you put me to death you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and upon its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.16Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, "This man does not deserve death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God."17Some of the elders of the land arose and spoke to all the assembled people, saying,18Micaiah and Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and said to all the people of Judah: Thus says the LORD of Hosts: Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap and the mountain of the house shall become high places of a forest.19Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the LORD so that the LORD relented from the disaster he had pronounced against them? But we are bringing great disaster on ourselves.20There 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 in words like those of Jeremiah.21When King Jehoiakim and all his warriors and all the officials heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; Uriah heard of it and was afraid and fled and went to Egypt.22King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor and men with him.23They brought Uriah out of Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim who struck him down with the sword and cast his body into the burial place of the people.24But the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given into the hand of the people to be put to death.