XXVI. (1) IN THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF JEHOIAKIM. — The section which follows is among the earlier fragments of the book, some three years before that of the preceding chapter. It will be noted that there is no mention of the Chaldaeans, and that Jehoiakim is on friendly terms with Egypt (Jerem... [ Continue Reading ]
STAND IN THE COURT OF THE LORD’S HOUSE. — The occasion was probably one of the Feasts, and drew worshippers from all parts of the kingdom. As in Jeremiah 7:1, the prophet had to stand in the crowded court of the Temple and utter his warning. Some critics have supposed, indeed, that in Jeremiah 7-11... [ Continue Reading ]
IF SO BE THEY WILL HEARKEN... — The threat that follows in Jeremiah 26:6 is a very terrible one, but it is uttered in order that it may _not_ be realised. So in the same spirit St. Paul warns men of his power to inflict a supernatural punishment, yet prays that he may have no occasion to use it (2 C... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WALK IN MY LAW, WHICH I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU. — The words present more vividly than in the parallels of Jeremiah 7:25; Jeremiah 25:4 the relation of the Law as the groundwork of the teaching of the Prophets, their office being that of preachers and expounders, making men feel that the commandment... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL MAKE THIS HOUSE LIKE SHILOH. — See Notes on Jeremiah 7:14. The surprise and anger with which the announcement was received indicate that it was now heard for the first time, and so far confirms the view that we have here a summary of the discourse given _in extenso,_ and probably edited, as i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIESTS AND THE PROPHETS. — The mention of the latter is significant. Jeremiah had to separate himself from both the orders to which he belonged, in the one case, by birth, in the other, by a special vocation. His bitterest foes were found among those who claimed to speak as he did, in the name... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT SURELY DIE. — Better, as expressing the Hebrew emphasis of reduplication, _Thou shalt die the death._ The phrase is the same as in Genesis 2:17. The threat of the men of Anathoth (Jeremiah 11:21) is repeated by the priests and prophets of Jerusalem. They look on Jeremiah as one who has in... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY HAST THOU PROPHESIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD...? — The threat that the house in which they gloried should be as the old sanctuary of Ephraim, over whose fall they had exulted, was as the last drop that made the cup of wrath and bitterness run over. They had chanted their psalms, which told how t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE PRINCES OF JUDAH HEARD THESE THINGS... — The princes appear not to have been present when the words were spoken. The report was carried to them as they sat in council with the king, and they came down to the Temple and took their place, to watch and listen what would come next. They went ap... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MAN IS WORTHY TO DIE. — Literally, _A judgment of death for this man._ The phrase seems to have been in current forensic use. (See Deuteronomy 19:6; Deuteronomy 21:22.) Among the accusers we may think of Pashur, the son of Immer (Jeremiah 20:1). Personal rancour mingles with the class feeling w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SENT ME TO PROPHESY... — The answer of the accused is that of all true prophets and preachers of the word, “The Lord God hath spoken, and he can but prophesy” (Amos 3:8). He must “obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29). And in this instance the prophet has nothing in the way of credentials b... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE NOW AMEND YOUR WAYS... — The prophet’s _apologia_ consists in repeating the substance of his message. He had not denounced an irreversible doom. He had held out the assurance of pardon on repentance. He had threatened only to bring about repentance. The whole history reminds us of the accu... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR ME, BEHOLD... — Literally, _And I, behold, I am in your hands;_ and for “as seemeth good and meet unto you,” read _in your eyes._ The prophet feels himself powerless in the presence of his accusers and judges, and can but appeal to the Judge of all.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT KNOW YE FOR CERTAIN. — Literally, with the Hebrew emphasis of reduplication, _Knowing, know ye._ The appeal is addressed, it will be remembered, to the lay judges, the princes, and the people, not to the priests and prophets who accused him. He believes that they at least would shrink from shedd... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MAN IS NOT WORTHY TO DIE. — Literally, as before in Jeremiah 26:11, _There is no judgment of death for this man._ Here again the later parallel comes unbidden to our memory. The lay-rulers are in favour of the true prophet, whom the priests and false prophets would have condemned. Pilate declar... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAIN OF THE ELDERS OF THE LAND. — The word is probably to be taken rather in the literal than in an official sense — or, if officially, then as including the literal meaning also. The elders speaking in the time of Jehoiakim (cir. B.C. 608) remembered the tradition of what had passed, a century o... [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH THE MORASTHITE. — On the general history and work of this prophet, see _Introduction to Micah._ The Hebrew text gives Micaiah, the two forms being (as in Judges 17:1; Judges 17:4, compared with 5, 12), in the Hebrew interchangeable. The epithet indicated his birth in Moresheth-gath in Philisti... [ Continue Reading ]
DID HEZEKIAH... PUT HIM AT ALL TO DEATH? — Literally, _make him die the death,_ the same phrase as in Jeremiah 26:8. There is no special record of the repentance thus referred to, but it is quite in accord with Hezekiah’s general character, as seen in 2 Chronicles 29:6 (which may be the occasion ref... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS ALSO A MAN THAT PROPHESIED... — The verses that follow, seeing that they state a fact which tends in the opposite direction, cannot be regarded as part of the argument of the “elders” of Jeremiah 26:17. Nor is there any sufficient reason for supposing, in the absence of any statement t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN JEHOIAKIM THE KING... — The fact that the princes of Judah, who defended Jeremiah, were against Urijah, suggests the inference either that his words were more vehemently denunciatory, or that he was less fortunate in finding a personal friend and protector like Ahikam. The flight into Egypt... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHOIAKIM THE KING SENT MEN INTO EGYPT. — It will be remembered that the king had been appointed by Pharaoh-necho, and rested therefore on his alliance. Elnathan, the envoy employed on this mission, was the king’s father-in-law (2 Kings 24:8). His father, Achbor, had taken a prominent part, toge... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY FETCHED FORTH URIJAH OUT OF EGYPT. — The martyr-death of the prophet had its parallels in the earlier history of Judah. So Jezebel had slain the prophets of Jehovah with the edge of the sword (1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 19:10; 1 Kings 19:14), and Zechariah the son of Jehoiada had been stoned to... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS THE HAND OF AHIKAM... — The family to whom the prophet’s protector belonged played a conspicuous part in the history of this period, and may be said to have furnished examples of three generations of Jewish patriotism. Shaphan, the father, was prominent as a scribe in the reformation of... [ Continue Reading ]