Jeremiah 26

Jeremiah Threatened with Death

1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD: 'Stand in a the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, b all the words that I command you to speak to them. c Do not diminish a word. 3 d 'Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may e relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.' 4 "And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: f "If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, 5 "to heed the words of My servants the prophets g whom I sent to you, both rising up early and sending them (but you have not heeded), 6 "then I will make this house like h Shiloh, and will make this city i a curse to all the nations of the earth." ' "

7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. 8 Now it happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, "You will surely die! 9 "Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, 'This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be j desolate, without an inhabitant'?" And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the LORD and sat down in the entry of the New Gate of the LORD's house. 11 And the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and all the people, saying, 1 "This man deserves to k die! For he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears."

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying: "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you have heard. 13 "Now therefore, l amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; then the LORD will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you. 14 "As for me, here m I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and 2 proper to you. 15 "But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing."

Jeremiah Spared from Death

16 So the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve to die. For he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God." 17 n Then certain of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying:

18 o "Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts:
p "Zion shall be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem shall become q heaps of ruins,
And the mountain of the 3 temple
Like the 4 bare hills of the forest." ' 5

19 "Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah ever put him to death? r Did he not fear the LORD and s seek the LORD's favor? And the LORD t relented concerning the doom which He had pronounced against them. u But we are doing great evil against ourselves."

20 Now there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath Jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah. 21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid and fled, and went to Egypt. 22 Then Jehoiakim the king sent men to Egypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor, and other men who went with him to Egypt. 23 And they brought Urijah from Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the 6 common people.

24 Nevertheless v the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

  1. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 24:20
    Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God: 'Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.'
    2 Chronicles 24:21
    So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD.
    Jeremiah 19:14
    Then Jeremiah came from Tophet, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the Lord's house and said to all the people.
  2. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:2
    You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
    Jeremiah 43:1
    Now it happened, when Jeremiah had stopped speaking to all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, all these words.
    Ezekiel 3:10
    Moreover He said to me: "Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.
    Matthew 28:20
    Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
    Revelation 22:19
    And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
  3. Cross References
    Acts 20:27
    For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
  4. Cross References
    Isaiah 1:16 - 19
    Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil.
    Jeremiah 36:3 - 7
    "It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin."
  5. Cross References
    Jeremiah 18:8
    If that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.
    Jonah 3:9
    Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?
  6. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:14
    But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe a...
    Leviticus 26:15
    And if you despise My statutes, or if your soul...
    Deuteronomy 28:15
    But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey t...
    1 Kings 9:6
    But if you or your sons at all turn from follow...
    Isaiah 1:20
    But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devou...
    Jeremiah 17:27
    "But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabb...
    Jeremiah 22:5
    "But if you will not hear these words, I swear ...
  7. Cross References
    Jeremiah 25:4
    And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear.
    Jeremiah 29:19
    Because they have not heeded My words, says the LORD, which I sent to them by My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; neither would you heed, says the LORD.
  8. Cross References
    1 Samuel 4:10
    So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.
    1 Samuel 4:11
    Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
    Psalms 78:60
    So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men.
    Jeremiah 7:12
    But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.
    Jeremiah 7:14
    Therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.
  9. Cross References
    2 Kings 22:19
    Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, " says the LORD.
    Isaiah 65:15
    You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; For the Lord GOD will slay you, And call His servants by another name.
    Jeremiah 24:9
    I will deliver them to trouble into all the kingdoms of the earth, for their harm, to be a reproach and a byword, a taunt and a curse, in all places where I shall drive them.
  10. Cross References
    Jeremiah 9:11
    "I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a den of jackals. I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant."
  11. Cross References
    Jeremiah 38:4
    Therefore the princes said to the king, "Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.
  12. Cross References
    Jeremiah 7:3
    Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.
    Joel 2:13
    So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
    Jonah 3:8
    But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.
  13. Cross References
    Jeremiah 38:5
    Then Zedekiah the king said, "Look, he is in your hand. For the king can do nothing against you.
  14. Cross References
    Acts 5:34
    Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.
  15. Cross References
    Micah 1:1
    The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
  16. Cross References
    Micah 3:12
    Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest.
  17. Cross References
    Nehemiah 4:2
    And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish - stones that are burned?
    Psalms 79:1
    O GOD, the nations have come into Your inheritance; Your holy temple they have defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
    Jeremiah 9:11
    "I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a den of jackals. I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant."
  18. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 32:26
    Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
    Isaiah 37:1
    And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.
    Isaiah 37:4
    'It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'"
    Isaiah 37:15 - 20
    Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying:
  19. Cross References
    2 Kings 20:1 - 19
    In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.'
  20. Cross References
    Exodus 32:14
    So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.
    2 Samuel 24:16
    And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "It is enough; now restrain your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
    Jeremiah 18:8
    If that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.
  21. Cross References
    Acts 5:39
    "but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it - lest you even be found to fight against God."
  22. Cross References
    2 Kings 22:12 - 14
    Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying.
    Jeremiah 39:14
    Then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.
    Jeremiah 40:5 - 7
    Now while Jeremiah had not yet gone back, Nebuzaradan said, "Go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go." So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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