Jeremiah Chapter 26 — Jeremiah's Trial and Deliverance
Jeremiah is threatened with death after prophesying the Temple's destruction but is saved when the princes and elders recall historical precedents of prophecy.
Open this chapter in the Biblicast app for the full reading experience with audio narration and explanations.
Notable Verses
Jeremiah 26:13
“Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the LORD your God’s voice; then the LORD will relent from the evil that he has pronounced against you.”
This verse encapsulates Jeremiah's central plea for the people to change their behavior to avoid judgment.
Jeremiah 26:24
“But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they didn’t give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.”
This identifies the specific person whose influence saved Jeremiah from being executed by the angry crowd.
Chapter Summary
At the beginning of King Jehoiakim’s reign, God commands Jeremiah to stand in the Temple court and deliver a message of repentance to all the cities of Judah. Jeremiah warns that if the people do not turn from their evil ways and listen to the prophets, God will make the Temple like Shiloh and the city a curse to all nations. This message outrages the priests and prophets, who seize Jeremiah and demand his death. During a trial before the princes of Judah, Jeremiah maintains his divine commission and urges the leaders to amend their ways. Some of the elders defend him by citing the historical example of Micah the Morashtite, who prophesied destruction during King Hezekiah's reign but was not killed. The chapter also mentions the prophet Uriah, who was executed by Jehoiakim for a similar message, highlighting the danger Jeremiah faced. Ultimately, Ahikam the son of Shaphan protects Jeremiah, preventing the people from putting him to death.
Frequently Asked Questions
The priests and prophets were angered because Jeremiah prophesied that the Temple would be destroyed like Shiloh and that Jerusalem would become a curse. They viewed his words as blasphemous or treasonous against the city's religious and national identity.
Micah was a prophet from the time of King Hezekiah who also prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem. The elders in Jeremiah 26 cite his case as a legal precedent to explain why Jeremiah should not be executed for his words, as Hezekiah had listened to Micah rather than killing him.
Uriah was another prophet who spoke the same words as Jeremiah. Unlike Jeremiah, Uriah was hunted down by King Jehoiakim even after fleeing to Egypt; he was brought back and executed, illustrating the extreme peril facing prophets of that era.
Study Note
The reference to Shiloh in verse 6 points to the historical site where the Tabernacle once stood before it was destroyed, serving as a sobering reminder that God's presence does not guarantee the safety of a physical structure if the people are unfaithful.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.