Jeremiah 26 · The Lantern

A Warning to the Cities of Judah

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying:

Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the house of the LORD and speak to all the cities of Judah who come to bow down in the house of the LORD all the words I command you to speak to them; do not subtract a word.

The Novatians bring up a question from the words of the apostle Peter. Because he said, "if perhaps," they think that he did not imply that forgiveness would be granted on repentance. But let them consider concerning to whom the words were spoken—of Simon, who did not believe through faith but was contemplating trickery.

But if one says that God revoked that severe sentence in consideration of their penitence, according to what he says by Ezekiel, "If I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die' and he becomes penitent for his sin and does judgment and justice … he shall surely live; he shall not die," we are similarly taught that we should not be obstinate in our resolve, but that we should with…

He did not use the word perhaps out of ignorance, aware as he was of their disobedience. Instead, he expressed such uncertainty to avoid their taking note of the divine sentence and despairing of salvation. It resembles also what was said by Ezekiel, "If then they hear, if then they see." In other words, it was not a result of ignorance.

Perhaps they will hear and turn, each from his evil way, and I will relent of the evil I am thinking to do to them because of the evil of their deeds.

And you will say to them: Thus says the LORD: If you do not listen to me, to walk in my instruction that I set before you,

to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I am sending to you — rising early and sending, and you have not heard —

then I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse for all the nations of the earth.

Jeremiah Threatened with Death

And the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.

And it was, when Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying: You will surely die!

Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying: This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be a ruin without inhabitant? And all the people gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

And the princes of Judah heard these words, and they went up from the house of the king to the house of the LORD and sat at the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD.

And the priests and the prophets said to the princes and to all the people: A judgment of death for this man, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.

And Jeremiah said to all the princes and to all the people: The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words you have heard.

And now, make good your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will relent of the evil he has spoken against you.

And I — see, I am in your hand. Do to me as is good and right in your eyes.

Only know surely that if you put me to death, you are putting innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on her inhabitants; for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak in your ears all these words.

Jeremiah Spared from Death

And the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets: There is no judgment of death for this man, for in the name of the LORD our God he has spoken to us.

And men rose up from the elders of the land and said to all the assembly of the people, saying:

Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah, saying: Thus says the LORD of hosts: Zion will be plowed a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps, and the mountain of the house high places of a forest.

Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and soften the face of the LORD, and the LORD relented of the evil he had spoken against them? And we are doing great evil against our own souls!

The Prophet Uriah

And there was also a man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim, and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.

And King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and all the princes heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. And Uriah heard and feared and fled and came to Egypt.

And King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt — Elnathan son of Achbor, and men with him, to Egypt.

And they brought Uriah out from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, and he struck him with the sword and threw his carcass to the graves of the sons of the people.