CHAPTER 26
At the beginning
of the reign
of Jehoiakim
son
of Josiah
king
of Judah,
this
word
came
from the LORD:
“This is what
the LORD
says:
Stand
in the courtyard
of the LORD’s
house
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.
Perhaps
they will listen
and turn—
each
from his evil
way of life—
so that I may relent
of
the disaster
that
I
am planning
to do
to them
because of
the evil
of their deeds.
And 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 set
before you,
and 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,
then I will make
this
house
like Shiloh,
and
I will make
this
city
an object of cursing
among all
the nations
of the earth.”
The priests,
the prophets,
and all
the people
heard
Jeremiah
speaking
these
words
in the house
of the LORD,
and as soon as
he
had finished
telling
all
the people
what the LORD
had commanded
him to say,
the priests
and prophets
and all
the people
seized him,
shouting,
“You must surely die!
How
dare you prophesy
in the name
of the LORD
that
this
house
will become
like Shiloh
and this
city
will be desolate
and deserted!”
And all
the people
assembled
against
Jeremiah
in the house
of the LORD.
When the officials
of Judah
heard
these
things,
they went up
from the king’s
palace
to the house
of the LORD
and sat
at the entrance
of the New
Gate
of the LORD’s house.
Then 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!”
And 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.
So now,
correct
your ways
and deeds
and obey
the voice
of the LORD
your God,
so that He
might relent
of
the disaster
that
He has pronounced
against you.
But
know
for certain
that
if
you
put me to death,
you
will bring
innocent
blood
upon yourselves,
on
this
city,
and on
its residents;
for
truly
the LORD
has sent
me to speak
all
these
words
in your hearing."
Then 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!”
“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:
‘Zion
will be plowed
like a field,
Jerusalem
will become
a heap of rubble,
and the temple
mount
a wooded
ridge.'
Did 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!"
Now 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
in words
like all
those of Jeremiah.
King
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.
They brought
Uriah
out of Egypt
and took
him to
King
Jehoiakim,
who struck him down
with the sword
and threw
his body
into
the burial place
of the common
people.
Nevertheless,
Ahikam
son
of Shaphan
supported
Jeremiah,
so he was not
handed over to
the people
to be put to death.