1Na počátku kralování Joakima syna Joziášova, krále Judského, stalo se slovo toto od Hospodina, řkoucí: 2Takto praví Hospodin: Postav se v síňci domu Hospodinova, a mluv ke všechněm městům Judským, přicházejícím klaněti se v domě Hospodinově, všecka slova, kteráž tobě přikazuji mluviti k nim, neujímejž slova, 3Zdali by aspoň uposlechli, a odvrátili se jeden každý od cesty své zlé, abych litoval zlého kteréž myslím učiniti jim pro nešlechetnost předsevzetí jejich. 4Rciž tedy jim: Takto praví Hospodin: Neuposlechnete-li mne, abyste chodili v zákoně mém, kterýž jsem předložil vám, 5Poslouchajíce slov služebníků mých proroků, kteréž já posílám k vám, jakož jste, když jsem je, ráno přivstávaje posílal, neposlouchali: 6Jistě žeť naložím s domem tímto jako s Sílo, a město toto vydám v proklínání všechněm národům země. 7Slyšeli pak kněží a proroci, i všecken lid Jeremiáše mluvícího slova ta v domu Hospodinovu. 8I stalo se, že hned, jakž přestal Jeremiáš mluviti všeho, cožkoli přikázal Hospodin mluviti ke všemu lidu, jali jej ti kněží a proroci i všecken lid ten, řkouce: Smrtí umřeš. 9Proč jsi prorokoval ve jménu Hospodinovu, řka: Stane se jako Sílo domu tomuto, a město toto tak spustne, že nebude v něm žádného obyvatele? Shromažďoval se pak všecken lid k Jeremiášovi do domu Hospodinova. 10Tedy uslyšavše knížata Judská ty věci, přišli z domu královského do domu Hospodinova, a posadili se u dveří brány Hospodinovy nové. 11I řekli kněží a proroci těm knížatům a všemu lidu, řkouce: Hoden jest smrti muž tento; nebo prorokoval proti městu tomuto, jakž jste slyšeli v své uši. 12Tedy promluvil Jeremiáš ke všechněm knížatům těm i ke všemu lidu, řka: Hospodin poslal mne, abych prorokoval o domu tomto i o městě tomto všecky ty věci, kteréž jste slyšeli. 13Protož nyní polepšte cest svých a předsevzetí svých, a poslouchejte hlasu Hospodina Boha svého, i bude litovati Hospodin toho zlého, kteréž vyřkl proti vám. 14Já pak aj, v rukou vašich jsem, učiňte mi, což se vám za dobré a spravedlivé vidí. 15Ale však jistotně vězte, usmrtíte-li mne, že krev nevinnou na sebe uvedete, i na město toto, i na obyvatele jeho; nebo v pravdě poslal mne Hospodin k vám, abych mluvil v uši vaše všecka slova tato. 16I řekli knížata i všecken lid kněžím a těm prorokům: Nemáť nikoli muž tento odsuzován býti na smrt, poněvadž ve jménu Hospodina Boha našeho mluvil nám. 17Tedy povstali někteří z starších té země, a promluvili ke všemu shromáždění lidu, řkouce: 18Micheáš Moraštický prorokoval za času Ezechiáše krále Judského, a pravil všemu lidu Judskému, řka: Takto praví Hospodin zástupů: Sion jako pole orán bude, a Jeruzalém jako hromady, hora pak domu tohoto jako lesové vysocí. 19Zdaliž hned proto usmrtil jej Ezechiáš král Judský a všecken Juda? Zdaliž neulekl se Hospodina, a nemodlil se Hospodinu? I litoval Hospodin toho zlého, kteréž vyřkl proti nim. Protož my činíme velmi zlou věc proti dušem svým. 20A byl také muž prorokující ve jménu Hospodinovu, Uriáš syn Semaiášův z Kariatjeharim, kterýž prorokoval o městě tomto i o zemi této v táž všecka slova jako Jeremiáš. 21A když uslyšel král Joakim a všickni udatní jeho, i všecka knížata slova jeho, hned usiloval král usmrtiti jej. O čemž uslyšev Uriáš, bál se, a utíkaje, přišel do Egypta. 22Ale poslal král Joakim některé do Egypta, Elnatana syna Achborova i jiné s ním do Egypta. 23Kteříž vyvedše Uriáše z Egypta, přivedli jej k králi Joakimovi. I zabil jej mečem, a vhodil tělo jeho do hrobů lidu obecného. 24A však ruka Achikamova syna Safanova byla při Jeremiášovi, aby ho nevydával v ruku lidu k usmrcení jeho.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 JEREMIAH DECLARED WORTHY OF DEATH, BUT BY THE INTERPOSITION OF AHIKAM SAVED; THE SIMILAR CASES OF MICAH AND URIJAH BEING ADDUCED IN THE PROPHET'S FAVOR. (Jer. 26:1-24)
in the court--the largest court, from which he could be heard by the whole people.
come to worship--Worship is vain without obedience (
1Sam 15:21-22).
all the words-- (
Ezek 3:10).
diminish not a word-- (
Deut 4:2;
Deut 12:32;
Pro 30:6;
Acts 20:27;
2Cor 2:17;
2Cor 4:2;
Rev 22:19). Not suppressing or softening aught for fear of giving offense; nor setting forth coldly and indirectly what can only by forcible statement do good.
3 if so be--expressed according to human conceptions; not as if God did not foreknow all contingencies, but to mark the obstinacy of the people and the difficulty of healing them; and to show His own goodness in making the offer which left them without excuse [CALVIN].
5 prophets--the inspired interpreters of the law (
Jer 26:4), who adapted it to the use of the people.
6 like Shiloh--(see on
Jer 7:12;
Jer 7:14;
1Sam 4:10-12;
Ps 78:60).
curse-- (
Jer 24:9;
Isa 65:15).
8 priests--The captain (or prefect) of the temple had the power of apprehending offenders in the temple with the sanction of the priests.
prophets--the false prophets. The charge against Jeremiah was that of uttering falsehood in Jehovah's name, an act punishable with death (
Deut 18:20). His prophecy against the temple and city (
Jer 26:11) might speciously be represented as contradicting God's own words (
Ps 132:14). Compare the similar charge against Stephen (
Acts 6:13-
Acts 6:14).
10 princes--members of the Council of State or Great Council, which took cognizance of such offenses.
heard--the clamor of the popular tumult.
came up--from the king's house to the temple, which stood higher than the palace.
sat--as judges, in the gate, the usual place of trying such cases.
new gate--originally built by Jotham ("the higher gate,"
2Kgs 15:35) and now recently restored.
12 Lord sent me--a valid justification against any laws alleged against him.
against . . . against--rather, "concerning." Jeremiah purposely avoids saying, "against," which would needlessly irritate. They had used the same Hebrew word (
Jer 26:11), which ought to be translated "concerning," though they meant it in the unfavorable sense. Jeremiah takes up their word in a better sense, implying that there is still room for repentance: that his prophecies aim at the real good of the city; for or concerning this house . . . city [GROTIUS].
13 (
Jer 26:3,
Jer 26:19).
14 Jeremiah's humility is herein shown, and submission to the powers that be (
Rom 13:1).
15 bring . . . upon yourselves--So far will you be from escaping the predicted evils by shedding my blood, that you will, by that very act, only incur heavier penalties (
Matt 23:35).
16 princes . . . all the people--The fickle people, as they were previously influenced by the priests to clamor for his death (
Jer 26:8), so now under the princes' influence require that he shall not be put to death. Compare as to Jesus, Jeremiah's antitype, the hosannas of the multitude a few days before the same people, persuaded by the priests as in this case, cried, Away with Him, crucify Him (
Matt 21:1-
Matt 21:11;
Matt 27:20-
Matt 27:25). The priests, through envy of his holy zeal, were more his enemies than the princes, whose office was more secular than religious. A prophet could not legally be put to death unless he prophesied in the name of other gods (therefore, they say, "in the name of the Lord"), or after his prophecy had failed in its accomplishment. Meanwhile, if he foretold calamity, he might be imprisoned. Compare Micaiah's case (1Ki. 22:1-28).
17 Compare Gamaliel's interposition (
Acts 5:34, &c.).
elders--some of the "princes" mentioned (
Jer 26:16) those whose age, as well as dignity, would give weight to the precedents of past times which they adduce.
18 (
Mic 3:12).
Morasthite--called so from a village of the tribe Judah.
Hezekiah--The precedent in the reign of such a good king proved that Jeremiah was not the only prophet, or the first, who threatened the city and the temple without incurring death.
mountain of the house--Moriah, on which stood the temple (peculiarly called "the house") shall be covered with woods instead of buildings. Jeremiah, in quoting previous prophecies, never does so without alteration; he adapts the language to his own style, showing thereby his authority in his treatment of Scripture, as being himself inspired.
19 Hezekiah, so far from killing him, was led "to fear the Lord," and pray for remission of the sentence against Judah (
2Chr 32:26).
Lord repented-- (
Exod 32:14;
2Sam 24:16).
Thus--if we kill Jeremiah.
20 As the flight and capture of Urijah must have occupied some time, "the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim" (
Jer 26:1) must not mean the very beginning, but the second or third year of his eleven years' reign.
And . . . also--perhaps connected with
Jer 26:24, as the comment of the writer, not the continuation of the speech of the elders: "And although also a man that prophesied . . . Urijah . . . (proving how great was the danger in which Jeremiah stood, and how wonderful the providence of God in preserving him), nevertheless the hand of Ahikam," &c. [GLASSIUS]. The context, however, implies rather that the words are the continuation of the previous speech of the elders. They adduce another instance besides that of Micah, though of a different kind, namely, that of Urijah: he suffered for his prophecies, but they imply, though they do not venture to express it, that thereby sin has been added to sin, and that it has done no good to Jehoiakim, for that the notorious condition of the state at this time shows that a heavier vengeance is impending if they persevere in such acts of violence [CALVIN].
22 Jehoiakim sent . . . into Egypt--He had been put on the throne by Pharaoh of Egypt (
2Kgs 23:34). This explains the readiness with which he got the Egyptians to give up Urijah to him, when that prophet had sought an asylum in Egypt. Urijah was faithful in delivering his message, but faulty in leaving his work, so God permitted him to lose his life, while Jeremiah was protected in danger. The path of duty is often the path of safety.
23 graves of the common people--literally, "sons of the people" (compare
2Kgs 23:6). The prophets seem to have had a separate cemetery (
Matt 23:29). Urijah's corpse was denied this honor, in order that he should not be regarded as a true prophet.
24 Ahikam--son of Shaphan the scribe, or royal secretary. He was one of those whom King Josiah, when struck by the words of the book of the law, sent to inquire of the Lord (
2Kgs 22:12,
2Kgs 22:14). Hence his interference here in behalf of Jeremiah is what we should expect from his past association with that good king. His son, Gedaliah, followed in his father's steps, so that he was chosen by the Babylonians as the one to whom they committed Jeremiah for safety after taking Jerusalem, and on whose loyalty they could depend in setting him over the remnant of the people in Judea (
Jer 39:14;
2Kgs 25:22).
people to put him to death--Princes often, when they want to destroy a good man, prefer it to be done by a popular tumult rather than by their own order, so as to reap the fruit of the crime without odium to themselves (
Matt 27:20).