Jeremiah

BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNTS OF JEREMIAH

Jeremiah, Judged and Acquitted

At the start of Judah’s King Jehoiakim’s reign, son of Josiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:

The Lord says this: “Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and tell everyone who comes from the towns of Judah to worship there all that I command you—do not leave anything out!

Maybe they will listen to you. Maybe each person will turn from their wicked ways. Then I will change my mind and forget the destruction I planned to bring on them because of their evil deeds.

Tell them: This is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me and failed to follow my law, which I have set before you.

You have not paid attention to my servants the prophets I have repeatedly sent to you. If you stubbornly refuse to listen to them,

I will treat this house of mine as I treated the Sanctuary of Shiloh and let all the nations see that Jerusalem is a cursed city.”

The priests, prophets, and all the people heard what Jeremiah said in the Lord’s house.

When Jeremiah finished delivering everything the Lord commanded, the priests and prophets came upon him, saying: “You must die!

How dare you speak in the Lord’s name, telling us that this house will be like Shiloh and that this city will become an abandoned ruin.” All the people gathered around Jeremiah in the Lord’s house.

Hearing this, the leaders of Judah came from the king’s palace to the Lord’s house and took their place at the entrance of the New Gate.

Then the priests and prophets told the leaders of the people: “This man must die because he has spoken against the city, as you heard with your own ears!”

Jeremiah replied: “The Lord has sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all that you have heard.

Hence, reform your ways and deeds and obey the Lord your God that he may change his mind and not bring upon you the destruction he intended.

As for me, I am in your hands; do whatever you consider just and right with me.

But know that I am innocent, and if you take my life, you commit a crime that is a curse on yourselves, on the city, and the people. In truth, the Lord sent me to say all that I said in your hearing.”

Then the leaders, backed by the people, said to the priests and the prophets: “This man does not deserve death; he spoke to us in the Name of the Lord.”

Some of the elders of the land addressed the people’s assembly, saying:

“Micah of Moresheth prophesied publicly during the time of Hezekiah, king of Judah: ‘Zion will become like a field, Jerusalem a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a hill overgrown with thickets.’

Did King Hezekiah of Judah and the people of Judah kill him? Instead, they feared the Lord and begged for His mercy until they succeeded in convincing Him to change His mind, and the Lord did not punish them as He had threatened. How can we commit such a crime?”

There was another man named Uriah, son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim, who also prophesied in the Lord’s Name. He spoke against this city and country using words similar to Jeremiah’s.

When King Jehoiakim and his officials heard his words, they decided to kill him. When Uriah found out, he was afraid and fled to Egypt.

But King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan, son of Achbor, along with some others, into Egypt.

They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him executed and threw his body into the common burial site.

As for Jeremiah, he was helped by Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and was not handed over to those aiming to kill him.