Jeremiah Seized

The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the temple of the Lord. He finished the address the Lord had commanded him to deliver to all the people. Then the priests, the prophets, and all the people took hold of him, yelling, “You must surely die! How dare you prophesy in the name of Yahweh, ‘This temple will become like Shiloh and this city will become an uninhabited ruin’!” Then all the people assembled against Jeremiah at the Lord’s temple.

10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they went from the king’s palace to the Lord’s temple and sat at the entrance of the New Gate.[a](A) 11 Then the priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man deserves the death sentence because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”(B)

Jeremiah’s Defense

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and the people, “The Lord sent me to prophesy all the words that you have heard against this temple and city. 13 So now, correct your ways and deeds(C) and obey the voice of the Lord your God so that He might relent concerning the disaster that He warned about. 14 As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right. 15 But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood(D) on yourselves, on this city, and on its residents, for it is certain the Lord has sent me to speak all these things directly to you.”

Jeremiah Released

16 Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man doesn’t deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of Yahweh our God!”

17 Some of the elders of the land stood up(E) and said to all the assembled people, 18 “Micah the Moreshite(F) prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah(G) and said to all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says:

Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become ruins,
and the temple mount a forested hill.’(H)

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all the people of Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and plead for the Lord’s favor,[b](I) and did not the Lord relent concerning the disaster He had pronounced against them?(J) We are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 26:10 Some Hb mss, Syr, Tg, Vg add of the house
  2. Jeremiah 26:19 Or and appease the Lord

And the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the temple of Yahweh. And then[a] as Jeremiah finished speaking all that Yahweh had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying,[b] “You will die! Why have you prophesied in the name of Yahweh, saying,[c] ‘This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be in ruins, without[d] inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the temple of Yahweh.

10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the house of the king to the temple of Yahweh, and they sat in the entrance of the New Gate of Yahweh’s temple. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, saying,[e]This man deserves the death sentence,[f] because he has prophesied against this city as that which you have heard with your ears.”

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and to all the people, saying,[g] “Yahweh sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13 Now therefore[h] amend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of Yahweh your God, and Yahweh will relent of the disaster that he has spoken over you. 14 But as for me, look, I am in your hand, do to me what is good and right in your eyes. 15 Only you must certainly know that if you put me to death, you will bring on yourselves innocent blood, and on this city and on its inhabitants, for truly[i] Yahweh sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “This man does not deserve[j] a sentence of death, for in the name of Yahweh our God, he has spoken to us.” 17 Then men from the elders of the land arose and said to all the assembly of the people, saying,[k] 18 “Micah the Morashtite was prophesying in the days of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and he said to all the people of Judah, saying:[l]

‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts,
“Zion will be plowed,
and Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,
and the mountain of the temple[m] as high places of wood.”’

19 Did Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and all Judah actually put him to death? Was he not in fear of Yahweh? And he entreated the face of Yahweh, and Yahweh relented of the disaster that he had spoken against them. But we are about to do great disaster to ourselves.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 26:8 Literally “And it happened”
  2. Jeremiah 26:8 Literally “to say”
  3. Jeremiah 26:9 Literally “to say”
  4. Jeremiah 26:9 Literally “from there is not”
  5. Jeremiah 26:11 Literally “to say”
  6. Jeremiah 26:11 Literally “A sentence of death is to this man”
  7. Jeremiah 26:12 Literally “to say”
  8. Jeremiah 26:13 Literally “so then”
  9. Jeremiah 26:15 Literally “in truth”
  10. Jeremiah 26:16 Literally “Not to this man”
  11. Jeremiah 26:17 Literally “to say”
  12. Jeremiah 26:18 Literally “to say”
  13. Jeremiah 26:18 Literally “house”