Jer. 25:1 ¶ The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;
Jer. 25:2 The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,
Jer. 25:3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.
This chapter opens with a statement of Jeremiah’s frustration. He declares that he has been faithfully prophesying the word of the LORD for 23 years to no avail. The people of Jerusalem and Judah have ignored his message and given no evidence of repentance or shame. Point is made that this message was received during the first year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign as king in Babylon.
Jer. 25:4 And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
Jer. 25:5 They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:
Jer. 25:6 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
Jer. 25:7 Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
Jeremiah goes on to acknowledge that he is just one of many prophets that God had sent to declare His word to the people. The message of each was basically the same—Repent of your evil ways in serving other gods; stop provoking Me to anger. If you do, I will not hurt you.
It also stood out to me that the LORD continues to affirm His covenant with the patriarchs that the land would belong to their descendants forever. This promise is not affected by God’s decision to judge the people for their sin by sending them into captivity. God has determined that the land of Israel is to belong to the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob forever. That covenant is still as valid today as it was the day it was established with Abraham. It will find complete fulfillment when Jesus returns to rule the nations from the throne of David in Jerusalem.
As I thought about the core message of the prophets, I couldn’t help but connect with the Father’s heart. He wants to be able to lavish His love on His chosen people, but they insist on continuing to reject His authority. He knows you can’t force love, so He at least desires to get obedience that will mitigate a response of His wrath.
In spite of the LORD’s mercy and patience, the people of Judah continued in their evil ways. They chose to worship “other gods,” idols made with their own hands, in rejection of Almighty God.
The phrase “other gods” stood out to me. I know that there is only one true God, but God declares that we can worship “other gods.” These gods come in many forms and include any person or thing that we give the priority of our energy, passion and time. In Jeremiah’s day it was a reference to the pagan gods worshipped by the nations surrounding Judah. The more I study, the more I believe that some of these “gods” were actually a result of the manifestation and influence of demonic spirits. I personally believe that the world today gives evidence of the continuing activity of these same demonic spirits. I believe these are the enemies to which Paul was referring in his letter to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Any time we choose to reject God and follow false gods, we do it to our own hurt.
Proverbs 8:36 “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:”
In context, Solomon is talking about wisdom, but he also goes on to declare that the fear of God is where wisdom begins.
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Jer. 25:8 ¶ Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,
Jer. 25:9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
Jer. 25:10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
Jeremiah now declares that God’s patience has run its course and judgment is forthcoming. Because they have chosen to ignore His message, He is going to judge them through Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, “my servant.” Is God saying that Neb was serving Him in faith and obedience? No. He is declaring that in His sovereignty He is going to empower Neb to accomplish his desires to expand his empire at the expense of Judah. Because he will be acting in accordance with God’s desire to judge Judah, he will in effect be God’s servant. Not only will Judah fall to the king of Babylon, so will the surrounding nations. His subjugation of the nations will result in their destruction and suffering.
Jer. 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
In this section we are told that Judah and the nations will serve Babylon for 70 years. It seems that Daniel had access to this chapter, if not the whole book of Jeremiah, and possibly the book of Chronicles.
Daniel 9:2 “In the first year of his [Darius} reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”
The writer of Chronicles tells us that 70 years was determined to allow the land to enjoy the sabbaths that God had commanded the people to observe and had been neglected.
2 Chronicles 36:20–21 “And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.”
The people had no excuse. They had been warned through Moses of the consequences of turning against God in disobedience.
Leviticus 26:27–28, 32-34 “And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury…. And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.”
Jer. 25:12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.
Jer. 25:13 And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.
Jer. 25:14 For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.
The LORD now allows the prophet to share a bit of hope. After 70 years in captivity, He will then punish the Babylonians for their own sin. As they had subjugated others, they will themselves be subjugated to other great nations and kings; as they had treated those whom they conquered, they too would be treated. They will reap what they have sown. This is a principle throughout scripture.
Job 4:8 “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.”
Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
It is important to note that although God used Nebuchadnezzar to accomplish His purposes, He was not causing Neb to act outside of his own choice and desire.
Babylon was eventually conquered by the Medes and the Persians, but the prophecy concerning “perpetual desolations” is yet future and is described in chapters 50-51. Babylon, however, will not be the only nation to suffer God’s hand of judgment; there are also many prophecies made concerning “the nations.”
Jer. 25:15 ¶ For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
Jer. 25:16 And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.
Jer. 25:17 Then took I the cup at the LORD’S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:
This certainly appears to be a use of figurative language. The LORD God of Israel is declaring through the prophet the coming judgment of the nations. Jeremiah is pictured as giving a cup full of the fury of God to the kings of particular nations and making them drink it. I believe this is a reference to Jeremiah declaring God’s message everywhere he was sent. I am reminded that God’s word always accomplishes His purposes.
Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
I am also reminded that God’s word is like a sword.
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Revelation 19:15–16 “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Jer. 25:18 To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;
Jer. 25:19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;
Jer. 25:20 And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,
Jer. 25:21 Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,
Jer. 25:22 And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,
Jer. 25:23 Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,
Jer. 25:24 And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,
Jer. 25:25 And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,
Jer. 25:26 And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.
In this section of verses the LORD specifically identifies the kings and their nations that are to be judged, beginning with Judah. It would seem to be a list of the nations to whom Jeremiah declared God’s message. Their identifications to the best of my ability according to research are:
• Pharaoh & Egypt – It reads to me as though the mingled people are included as part of the domain of Egypt.
• Uz – In Lamentations this land is mentioned in connection with Edom. It was the home of Job.
• Philistines – Ashkelon, Azzah, Ekron and Ashdod are identified as some of the main cities.
• Edom – Located in the southern part of modern day Jordan.
• Moab – Located north of Edom in modern day Jordan.
• Ammon – Located north of Moab in modern day Jordan.
• Tyre – land of the Phoenicians and part of modern day Lebanon
• Zidon – land of the Phoenicians and part of modern day Lebanon
• The isles beyond the sea – The Hebrew for isles speaks of coastlands and is probably referencing the European coastlands across the Mediterranean
• Dedan – The area east of Ammon in modern day Saudi Arabia
• Tema – Also part of modern day Saudi Arabia
• Buz – Another part of Saudi Arabia
• All in the utmost corners – could be a reference to the four corners of the earth, meaning the lands furthest north, south, east & west from Israel
• Arabia – broader land mass including today’s Syria & Yemen
• The desert nomads – probably a reference to the rest of the Arabian peninsula
• Zimri – Eerdman’s Dictionary indicates could be an athbash code associated with Elam
• Elam – area of modern day Iran
• Medes – area of modern day northern Iraq and western Turkey
• All the kings of the north, far and near & All the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth – includes any nation on earth not specifically identified
• King of Sheshach – Another name for Babylon, today known as Iraq
The specific nations mentioned are all noted for their proximity to Israel and are basically identified with today’s Middle East. Important to note, however, is the fact that the judgment being referenced will impact all the nations on earth. This tells me that the time of wrath being referenced in verses 15-17 is yet future and is connected with the last seven years on planet earth before Jesus returns to set up His kingdom. This time period is more commonly known as the tribulation, the time when evil reigns under the rule of Satan’s Antichrist who will once again rule from Babylon. It is during that time that God’s wrath will be directed toward His enemies, those who are wicked and evil.
Jer. 25:27 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.
Jer. 25:28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.
Jer. 25:29 For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.
These verses read like an exclamation point to the fact all the nations on earth are going to suffer according to God’s wrath. The LORD is basically declaring that if He brings such harsh judgment against His own people, the other nations on earth should not think that they would escape judgment.
“rise no more” – I believe this is a reference to the truth that after this judgment to appease God’s wrath, the God of Israel in the person of Jesus Christ will rule over the whole world from Jerusalem. No other nation will again be allowed to rise in power and authority over any other nation.
Jer. 25:30 ¶ Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
Jer. 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
These verses give yet another exclamation point on the coming judgment of YHWH against the nations. This time of judgment and pouring out of God’s wrath on the nations will run concurrent with the 70th week of Daniel that God has purposed to refine the people of Israel and bring forth a believing remnant through whom He will fulfill His covenant with Abraham. (See journal on Daniel 9.)
The LORD is pictured as roaring like a mighty lion looking out over His domain. Hosea and Amos use the same comparison.
Hosea 11:10 “They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.”
Amos 3:7–8 “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”
The Hebrew for the word “plead” (v31) is another word for “judgment, pronouncing sentence against, punish.” Point is again made that this judgment will be against “all the inhabitants of the earth.”
Jer. 25:32 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
Jer. 25:33 And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
The LORD continues to declare that His judgment will entail “evil…from nation to nation.” A whirlwind is a picture of destruction resulting from a powerful, fast moving storm. When reading of the judgments that are going to be poured out on planet earth as detailed in the book of Revelation, that is exactly the picture I get when realizing that it will all take place in just a seven-year period.
Note that God’s judgment will be so overwhelming that the deaths of so many would not be mourned or given burial—the ultimate shame.
Jer. 25:34 Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.
Jer. 25:35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
Jer. 25:36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.
Jer. 25:37 And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
Jer. 25:38 He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.
The shepherds and principals of the flock represent the leaders, spiritual and governmental, of the nations, but Jeremiah’s message places the focus on the leaders of Judah. The kings and priests of the nations will be judged along with the nations they lead. Though yet future, verse 36 tells us that the deed is as good as done in God’s eyes.
History shows us over and over again how those in spiritual and governmental leadership over the nations take advantage of the people they are supposed to “shepherd.” God’s coming judgment will destroy the “pasture” of these evil “shepherds” and will once and for all put an end to such abuses of responsibility.
“forsaken his covert” – This is a statement of the LORD forsaking the temple in Jerusalem, His designated dwelling place on earth. Revelation 19 vividly describes Jesus leading His heavenly armies to destroy the armies of Satan at the final battle of Armageddon. Again, the judgments described in Revelation make it clear that planet earth will suffer great destruction as a result of the judgments that unleash God’s wrath against His enemies.
Jer. 26:1 ¶ In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,
Jer. 26:2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
Sometimes I wish Jeremiah’s prophecies were recorded chronologically. The prophecy of this chapter is dated after the death of Josiah in the beginning of the reign of his son Jehoiakim—approximately 609 BC.
Jeremiah was instructed to go to the temple and proclaim God’s word to all the cities of Judah as represented by those who came to the temple to worship. Several sources observe that this probably occurred in conjunction with a feast day, a day when many throughout Judah would have come to the temple to worship. Point is made that the LORD intends for ALL of his words to be heard; Jeremiah was not to leave out a single word.
I believe that is God’s intention for those who are pastors in the church today—to proclaim the whole counsel of God. When only part of God’s word is taught, the people suffer. It’s like choosing to testify at a trial only according to the facts that promote a specific conclusion—not necessarily the truth. If the truth is what is being sought, one need not fear presenting all the available testimony. This principle is declared in other parts of scripture.
Deuteronomy 4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
Proverbs 30:5–6 “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
Revelation 22:19 “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Jer. 26:3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
This message is actually one resulting from God’s mercy and grace. He is declaring through Jeremiah that if the people will repent of their evil doings, His judgment against them will be deferred.
Scripture is full of examples that show the heart of God toward the sinner as expressed by Ezekiel and Peter.
Ezekiel 18:32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Jer. 26:4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
Jer. 26:5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;
Jer. 26:6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
Even as grace and mercy are extended, the LORD is clear regarding the consequences of rejecting Him. YHWH has been faithful to send His servants the prophets to urge the people to listen to Him and follow Him in obedience. They have stubbornly refused to pay attention to the prophets. If they choose to continue in their wicked ways and refuse to repent, the LORD is going to make the temple like Shiloh and the city of Jerusalem a curse, a place of contempt to all the nations on earth.
Shiloh was the place where the tabernacle was located when the people took possession of the Promised Land.
Joshua 18:1 “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.”
It was in Shiloh that Samuel served as an apprentice to Eli. Scripture does not detail the destruction of Shiloh, but research indicates that it was destroyed around 1050 BC.
Stedman: “One of the encouraging messages of this book to our day is to remind us again that God is in control of the nations. They will do what he tells them to do, they will go where he sends them to go, whether they like it or not. Nations are not independent, sovereign states, as we often term them. They are sovereign as far as men's affairs are concerned, but not under God. God is sovereign.”
Jer. 26:7 ¶ So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
Jer. 26:8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.
Jer. 26:9 Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Jeremiah boldly declared God’s message to the people and emphasizes the fact that the priests and prophets, the spiritual leaders of the people, heard it along with all the people. At the end of his message, all the spiritual leaders and the people were ready to kill Jeremiah. They didn’t like his message of possible destruction of the temple and their city.
Jer. 26:10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’S house.
Jer. 26:11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.
When the princes, the governmental leaders, heard what was going on, they came from the palace to the temple and took a position at the new gate entry to the temple. This was evidently the place of trial and judgment. The spiritual leaders then gave testimony to Jeremiah’s prophecy against Jerusalem. They also recommended that Jeremiah be killed for such blasphemy.
“as ye have heard with your ears” – Would have to be referencing the people, not the princes.
Jer. 26:12 Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.
Jer. 26:13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.
Now Jeremiah speaks out in his own defense. He testifies that he was only declaring the message that was given to him by the LORD. He again boldly encourages the people to repent of their evil ways and turn back to the LORD in faith and obedience. If they do, the LORD will defer His judgment against them.
Jer. 26:14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.
Jer. 26:15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
Jeremiah then goes on to submit himself to the governing authorities. He warns them, however, that if they kill him, they will be guilty of shedding innocent blood because he is only acting in obedience to the LORD.
The following verses seem to indicate that Jeremiah’s persistence in declaring God’s word in spite of the threat of death made an impact on the people.
Jer. 26:16 ¶ Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
Jeremiah’s testimony seemed to resonate with the audience. It seems that they finally realized that he was actually speaking in the name “of the LORD our God.”
Jer. 26:17 Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,
Jer. 26:18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.
Jer. 26:19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.
At this point some of the elders of the land shared their insight. They reminded the people of the ministry of Micah the Morasthite that prophesied when Hezekiah was king—about 100 years earlier. He too prophesied that the temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed, but Hezekiah did not put him to death. Hezekiah listened to Micah’s message and responded in holy fear of the LORD; he prayed for God’s deliverance, and the LORD deferred judgment at that time. If they were to kill a true prophet of God, they stood in danger of reprisal from the LORD.
Jer. 26:20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:
Jer. 26:21 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 into Egypt;
Jer. 26:22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.
Jer. 26:23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
The information in this section of verses seems to be information for the reader of Jeremiah’s record, and doesn’t seem to have been part of the discussion pertaining to judgment. Or—Maybe this story was used by the elders to serve as a warning against repeating the same offense against another prophet of God.
We are told that another prophet named Urijah was declaring God’s word during this same time period. He too prophesied of judgment against Jerusalem and Judah. When King Jehoiakim heard of his prophecy, he determined to kill the prophet. Urijah evidently got wind of the king’s anger and fled to Egypt. He did not possess the courage of Jeremiah in light of the danger to his life. The king sent a delegation to bring Urijah back from Egypt. He was then executed upon his return and his body wasn’t given the honor due a prophet of God. The point seems to be that Jeremiah was more like Micah; he feared God more than men and was willing to die in obedience to the LORD.
What are we to learn from this record? We are to serve according to God’s will. We are to trust in Him to provide for us according to His purposes. We are not to fear death in light of our eternal inheritance. Believers today are blessed to have more promises to claim than did the prophet’s of old in that regard. Scripture is clear in stating that the LORD will honor those who honor Him.
1 Samuel 2:30 “… but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour….”
Isaiah 49:23 “…and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.”
Romans 10:11 “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
Jer. 26:24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
2Kings 22 identifies Shaphan as a scribe that served under King Josiah. This father and his son (Ahikam) and grandson (Gedaliah, Jer. 39, appointed governor of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar) all are presented as faithful servants before the LORD. They are all identified as servants who honored God. It would seem that Ahikam still had quite a bit of influence in the government and was able to prevent the execution of Jeremiah.