Jeremiah is arrested and judged
1 ① At the beginning of the reign of Judah’s king Jehoiakim son of Josiah, the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah: 2Yahweh says this, “Stand in the courtyard of Yahweh’s House and say to all who come from the towns of Judah to worship in Yahweh’s house – all that I command you to say; do not omit anything! 3Perhaps they will listen to you. Perhaps each one will turn from his wicked ways. Then I will change my mind and forget the destruction that I have planned to inflict on them because of their wicked deeds.
4Tell them: This is what Yahweh says:
“You have not obeyed me and you have failed to walk according to my Law which I have set before you. 5You have not heeded my servants, the prophets, whom I have persistently sent to you. If you stubbornly close your ears to them, 6I 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.”
7The priests, the prophets and all the people heard what Jeremiah said in Yahweh’s House. 8When Jeremiah finished saying all that Yahweh had commanded, he was besieged by the priests and prophets saying, “You are bound to die! 9How dare you speak in Yahweh’s Name telling us that this House will be treated like Shiloh and this city is to become a deserted ruin.” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the House of Yahweh.
10Upon hearing this, the leaders of Judah came up from the king’s palace to the House of Yahweh and took their place at the entrance of the New Gate. 11Then the priests and the prophets said to the leaders of the people: “This man must die for he has spoken against the city as you have heard with your own ears!”
12Jeremiah replied, “I have been sent by Yahweh to prophesy against this House and this city all that you have heard. 13Hence, reform your ways and your deeds and obey Yahweh your God that he may change his mind and not bring upon you the destruction he had intended.
14As for me I am in your hands; do with me whatever you consider just and right. 15But know that I am innocent and if you take my life you commit a crime that is a curse on yourselves, on the city and the people. In truth it was Yahweh who sent me to say all that I said in your hearing.”
16Then the leaders, backed by the people, said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve death; he spoke to us in the Name of Yahweh.”
17Some of the elders of the land addressed the people’s assembly saying, 18“Micah of Moresheth prophesied publicly in the time of Hezekiah, king of Judah:
‘Zion will become like a field, Jerusalem a heap of rubble and the Temple Mount a hill of overgrown thickets.’
19Did King Hezekiah of Judah and the people of Judah kill him? They instead feared Yahweh and implored his pardon until they succeeded in their plea to make him change his mind; and Yahweh did not inflict the harm with which he had threatened them. How can we commit such a crime?”
20There was another man, by the name of Uriah son of She maiah from Kiriath Jearim who also prophesied in the name of Yahweh. He spoke against this city and this country in words similar to those of Jeremiah. 21When King Jehoiakim together with his officials heard his words, he decided to do away with him. When Uriah came to know about it, he was scared and fled to Egypt. 22But King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan son of Achbor with some people into Egypt. 23They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim who had him slain and his body thrown into the common people’s burial place.
24As for Jeremiah he was be friended by Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and was not handed over to those who wanted him put to death.
- Jer 26,1 In 7:1-15 we had the discourse against people who trust in the Temple. Here Jeremiah's secretary, Baruch - about whom we will speak later - summarizes the discourse and tells us what impact it had. - The people defend Jeremiah against the priests and the prophets. - Jeremiah maintains his position firmly: he cannot provide proof or miracles to confirm what he is saying. He is saved by the conversion of the people: they have recognized the voice of truth. - They recall the words of the prophet Micah 3:12 in the previous century. - At the end of the chapter, there is mention of the family of Shaphan, the secretary of the king who had favored the religious reform of King Josiah (see 2 K 22:8). Shaphan and his family will protect Jeremiah on several occasions. The confrontation between Jeremiah and the priests is not accidental. Oftentimes the priests who kept the word of God opposed the prophets of their times. John the Baptist was ignored by the priests, and Jesus was condemned by them. The reason is that, often the ministers of religion think first of preserving the institutions and the system of which they are the guardians and which provide them with a livelihood, whereas the prophets invite us to forge ahead and be mindful of what is essential.
