Jeremiah 26:1-9
Chapter 26
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.
Commentaries
Jeremiah, Judged and Acquitted.
It recalls the circumstances in which Jeremiah delivered a speech against the temple (7:1-15) and the violent reactions it sparked (8ff). Jeremiah’s words create conflict and division: the priests and prophets accuse him of blasphemy, for which he faces death (11); the leaders of the people acknowledge his innocence (16); and in the middle are the people, who initially oppose Jeremiah (7-9) but later recognize him as a true prophet (16).