The Father Sends His Word to Judah
Jeremiah says in the temple court that this house could end like Shiloh, and priests and prophets seize him demanding death. He does not soften it — turn, and your Father will relent. Officials and elders spare him, though Uriah was killed for the same words.
26 1When Jehoiakim son of Josiah began his reign over Judah, this word came from our Father:
2This is what our Father says: Stand in the court of my house and tell all Judah's cities that come to worship there every word I command you to speak; hold nothing back. 3Perhaps they will listen and each turn from his evil way; then I change my mind about the disaster I plan for them because of their evil deeds. 4Tell them: This is what our Father says: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I set before you, 5and to listen to my servants the prophets, whom I send you again and again—but you never listened, 6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city a curse to all earth's nations. a a v6 Shiloh was the place where our Father's sanctuary once stood until it was destroyed and abandoned — a warning that the temple in Jerusalem could meet the same end.
7The priests, prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of our Father. 8When Jeremiah finished speaking all our Father commanded him to tell all the people, the priests, prophets, and all the people seized him, shouting, "You will surely die! 9Why prophesy in our Father's name, saying, 'This house will be like Shiloh, and this city desolate, uninhabited'?" And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in our Father's house.
10Hearing this, Judah's officials went up from the king's house to the house of our Father and sat at the entrance of the New Gate of the house of our Father. 11Then the priests and prophets told the officials and all the people, "This man deserves death; he prophesied against this city, as you heard yourselves."
12Jeremiah told all the officials and people, "Our Father sent me to prophesy against this house and city everything you heard. 13So mend your ways and deeds, obey your Father's voice, and your Father will relent about the disaster he pronounced against you. 14But here I am, in your hands. Do with me whatever seems good and right to you. 15But know for certain: if you kill me, you bring innocent blood on yourselves, this city, and its residents—for our Father truly sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing."
16Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, "This man deserves no death sentence, for he spoke to us in our Father's name."
17Some elders of the land stood up and said to the whole assembly of the people,
18"Micah of Moresheth prophesied while Hezekiah reigned over Judah, telling all Judah's people, 'This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem reduced to ruins, the temple mount a wooded height.'"
19Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah kill him? Didn't he fear our Father and seek his favor, so our Father relented of the disaster he'd threatened against them? We're about to bring great disaster on ourselves.
20Now there was another man who prophesied in our Father's name, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and land in words like those of Jeremiah. 21When King Jehoiakim, all his warriors, and all the officials heard his words, the king tried to have him killed. Uriah heard, feared, fled, and escaped to Egypt. 22Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt—Elnathan son of Achbor and others with him. 23They brought Uriah from Egypt to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with the sword and threw his body into the common people's graves.
24But Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed to the people to be killed.
