REVIEW OF CHAPTER THIRTEEN I. Facts to Master 1. Time, place, and results of the message delivered in Chapter 26. 2. Verdict rendered by the princes in the case of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:16). 3. Name of the earlier prophet who prophesied against Jerusalem in the name of the Lord (Jeremiah 26:1... [ Continue Reading ]
1. _A divine directive_ (Jeremiah 26:1-3) Four specific points relating to a divine directive which came to Jeremiah are brought out in Jeremiah 26:1-3. First, there is a word as to the _time_ of the directive. The word of the Lord came to the prophet in the beginning of the reign of king Jehoiakim... [ Continue Reading ]
PART THREE CHAPTER THIRTEEN JEREMIAH FACES OPPOSITION Jeremiah 26:1 to Jeremiah 29:32 The material in Chapter s 26-29 is primarily biographical in character and written in the third person. Some autobiographical material is also included here (see Jeremiah 27:1 to Jeremiah 28:4). The most unique l... [ Continue Reading ]
I. THE ARREST AND TRIAL OF THE PROPHET Jeremiah 26:1-24 The faithful proclamation of the word of God is dangerous business. Amos, the prophet from Tekoa, was openly rebuked by Amaziah the high priest of Bethel and was ordered to leave the country (Amos 7:10 ff.). Zechariah the son of Jehoiada was st... [ Continue Reading ]
_2. A stirring message_ (Jeremiah 26:4-6) Jeremiah's sermon in the courtyard of the Temple must have been quite a bombshell! It stirred a hornet's nest of opposition. Doubtlessly in Jeremiah 26:4-6 only a brief summary of the sermon preached on this occasion has been preserved. Had the entire messag... [ Continue Reading ]
3. _An angry response_ (Jeremiah 26:7-10) Those who were assembled in the court of the Temple that day listened sullenly and indignantly as the mighty man of God delivered the word (Jeremiah 26:7). Though Jeremiah saw the scowling faces, the clenched fists, the threatening gestures yet he continued... [ Continue Reading ]
B. The Trial Jeremiah 26:11-24 The proceedings at the New Gate were similar to those in any court of law. Formal charges were lodged against Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:11) and then the prophet was allowed to speak in his own defense (Jeremiah 26:12-15). A legal precedent was cited which seems to justify... [ Continue Reading ]
2. _A legal precedent_ (Jeremiah 26:16-19) TRANSLATION (16) Then the princes and all the people said unto the priests and the prophets, There will be no judgment of death for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God. (17) Now certain men from the elders of the land had aris... [ Continue Reading ]
3. _A counter-precedent_ (Jeremiah 26:20-23) TRANSLATION (20) But there was also a man who was prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land just as Jeremiah had done. (21) When king Jehoiakim and all his... [ Continue Reading ]
4. _Jeremiah's deliverance_ (Jeremiah 26:24) TRANSLATION (24) But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah in order to prevent his being given into the hand of the people to slay him. COMMENTS Jeremiah had one very influential supporter during his trial. Ahikam son of Shaphan is cr... [ Continue Reading ]