How could a prophet's execution be justified? (Jeremiah 26:20-23)
20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim and all his officers and officials heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death. But Uriah heard of it and fled in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)
Jeremiah 26:1 - 24
AMP - 1 IN THE beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the Lord: 2 Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord's house [Jeremiah] and speak to all [the people of] the cities of Judah who come to worship in the Lord's house all the words that I command you to speak to them; subtract not a word.
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Asked December 15 2025
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Anonymous
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Timothy Maas
Supporter
Uriah's execution at King Jehoiakim's command could not be justified, any more than all persecution of genuine prophets or believers could or can (even to this day). As depicted in Scripture, Jehoiakim was an evil king who was not concerned with obedience to God, but only with his own personal pleasure, survival, and aggrandizement. As described in The Jewish Encyclopedia, he was a godless tyrant who committed atrocious sins and crimes. He is portrayed as living in incestuous relations with his mother, daughter-in-law, and stepmother, and was in the habit of murdering men, whose wives he then violated and whose property he seized. He also had tattooed his body, in violation of Leviticus 19:28.
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