# Jeremiah 26 š: Jeremiah on Trial
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Jeremiah Is Put on Trial as a False Prophet
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ spoke to JeremiahĀ at the beginning of the reignĀ of Josiahās son, King Jehoiakim of Judah.Ā
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ said, āGo stand in the courtyard of theĀ Lordās temple.Ā Speak out to all the people who are coming from the towns of Judah to worship in theĀ Lordās temple. Tell them everything I command you to tell them. Do not leave out a single word.Ā
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do.Ā If they do that, then I will forgo destroying themĀ as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing.Ā
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā Tell them that theĀ LordĀ says,Ā āYou must obey me; you must live according to the way I have instructed you in my laws.Ā
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā You must pay attention to the exhortations of my servants the prophets. I have sent them to you over and over again.Ā But you have not paid any attention to them.Ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā If you do not obey me,Ā then I will do to this temple what I did to Shiloh.Ā And I will make this city an example to be used in curses by people from all the nations on the earth.āā
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah say these things in theĀ Lordās temple.Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā Jeremiah had just barely finished saying all theĀ LordĀ had commanded him to say to all the people when all at once someĀ of the priests, the prophets, and the people grabbed him and shouted, āYou deserve to die!Ā
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā How dare you claim theĀ Lordās authority to prophesy such things! How dare you claim his authority to prophesy that this temple will become like Shiloh and that this city will become an uninhabited ruin!āĀ Then all the people crowded around Jeremiah in theĀ Lordās temple.
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā However, some of the officialsĀ of Judah heard about what was happeningĀ and they rushed up to theĀ Lordās temple from the royal palace. They set up courtĀ at the entrance of the New Gate of theĀ Lordās temple.Ā
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā Then the priests and the prophets made their charges before the officials and all the people. They said,Ā āThis man should be condemned to dieĀ because he prophesied against this city. You have heard him do soĀ with your own ears.ā
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā Then Jeremiah made his defense before all the officials and all the people.Ā āTheĀ LordĀ sent me to prophesy everything you have heard me say against this temple and against this city.Ā
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā But correct the way you have been living and do what is right.Ā Obey theĀ LordĀ your God. If you do, theĀ LordĀ will forgo destroying you as he threatened he would.Ā
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā As to my case, I am in your power.Ā Do to me what you deem fair and proper.Ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā But you should take careful note of this: If you put me to death, you will bring on yourselves and this city and those who live in it the guilt of murdering an innocent man. For theĀ LordĀ has sent me to speak all this where you can hear it. That is the truth!ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā Then the officials and all the people rendered their verdict to the priests and the prophets. They said,Ā āThis man should not be condemned to die.Ā For he has spoken to us under the authority of theĀ LordĀ our God.āĀ
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā Then some of the elders of JudahĀ stepped forward and spoke to all the people gathered there. They said,Ā
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā āMicah from MoreshethĀ prophesied during the time Hezekiah was king of Judah.Ā He told all the people of Judah, āTheĀ LordĀ of Heavenās ArmiesĀ says,
āāZionĀ will become a plowed field.
Jerusalem will become a pile of rubble.
The temple mount will become a mere wooded ridge.āā
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā āKing Hezekiah and all the people of Judah did not put him to death, did they? Did not Hezekiah show reverence for theĀ LordĀ and seek theĀ Lordās favor?Ā Did notĀ theĀ LordĀ forgo destroying themĀ as he threatened he would? But we are on the verge of bringing great disaster on ourselves.ā
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā Now there was another manĀ who prophesied as theĀ Lordās representativeĀ against this city and this land just as Jeremiah did. His name was Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim.Ā
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā When King Jehoiakim and all his bodyguardsĀ and officials heard what he was prophesying,Ā the king sought to have him executed. But Uriah found out about it and fled to Egypt out of fear.Ā
[[#Verse 22.]]Ā However, King Jehoiakim sent some men to Egypt, including Elnathan son of Achbor,Ā
[[#Verse 23.]]Ā and they brought Uriah back from there.Ā They took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him executed and had his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.
[[#Verse 24.]]Ā However, Ahikam son of ShaphanĀ used his influence to keep Jeremiah from being handed over and executed by the people.
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. This event took place at the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign (26:1), around 609 BC.
2. Chapter 26 describes the response to the temple sermon recorded in chapter 7.
3. The officials sat at the entrance of the New Gate of the Lord's house (26:10), where legal cases could be heard.
4. Some elders quoted the prophet Micah of Moresheth (26:18), citing Micah 3:12.
5. This is one of the rare places in the Old Testament where one prophet's written words are quoted and attributed by name.
6. Hezekiah responded to Micah's warning by seeking the Lord (26:19).
7. The prophet Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim preached the same message as Jeremiah (26:20).
8. Uriah fled to Egypt but was brought back by Elnathan son of Achbor and killed by Jehoiakim (26:22-23).
9. Ahikam's father Shaphan was the royal secretary who read the Book of the Law to Josiah (2 Kings 22:8-10).
10. Ahikam's son Gedaliah later became governor of Judah under Babylon (40:5).
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true Prophet who was put on trial for speaking against the temple. The priests and prophets said Jeremiah deserved death (26:11), just as the religious leaders said of Jesus (Matthew 26:65-66).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. God told Jeremiah not to hold back a single word (26:2). Why is it tempting to soften God's message, and what does faithfulness require?
2. The elders remembered how Hezekiah responded to Micah's warning (26:18-19). How can remembering the past help us respond rightly to God today?
3. Ahikam protected Jeremiah when others wanted him dead (26:24). Who has God used to protect or support you, and whom might He want you to support?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 2: Speak all the words I command you; do not hold back a word.
- š verse 13: Amend your ways and obey the Lord, and He will relent of the disaster He announced.
- š verse 24: Ahikam son of Shaphan protected Jeremiah so he was not handed over to be killed.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[Matthew 26#Verse 65.|Matthew 26:65-66]] - The leaders say Jesus deserves death.
- š [[Micah 03#Verse 12.|Micah 3:12]] - Zion will be plowed like a field.
- š [[Acts 06#Verse 13.|Acts 6:13-14]] - Stephen is accused of speaking against the temple.
- š [[Acts 05#Verse 38.|Acts 5:38-39]] - Gamaliel's wise counsel.
- š [[Matthew 23#Verse 37.|Matthew 23:37]] - Jerusalem kills the prophets.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[Jeremiah 26 - SOAP|God Has Got Your Back]]
## š Internal Notes