Jeremiah 26

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

“The LORD says: ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Don’t omit a word.

It may be they will listen, and every man turn from his evil way, that I may relent from the evil which I intend to do to them because of the evil of their doings.’”

You shall tell them, “The LORD says: ‘If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law which I have set before you,

to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you, even rising up early and sending them—but you have not listened—

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

The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the LORD’s house.

When Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You shall surely die!

Why have you prophesied in the LORD’s name, saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate, without inhabitant’?” All the people were crowded around Jeremiah in the LORD’s house.

When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the LORD’s house; and they sat in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s house.

Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and to all the people, saying, “This man is worthy of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.”

Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and to all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.

Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the LORD your God’s voice; then the LORD will relent from the evil that he has pronounced against you.

But as for me, behold, I am in your hand. Do with me what is good and right in your eyes.

Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for in truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets: “This man is not worthy of death; for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”

Then certain of the elders of the land rose up, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying,

“Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies says: “‘Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.’

Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Didn’t he fear the LORD, and entreat the favor of the LORD, and the LORD relented of the disaster which he had pronounced against them? We would commit great evil against our own souls that way!”

There was also a man who prophesied in the LORD’s name, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath Jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.

When Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt.

Then Jehoiakim the king sent Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him into Egypt.

They fetched Uriah out of Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they didn’t give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter records Jeremiah’s early public proclamation of judgment at the temple during Jehoiakim’s reign, where he warns that Judah’s continued disobedience will result in the destruction of the temple and city, just as happened to Shiloh. His message provokes outrage among religious leaders, leading to a trial before officials and the people. Though condemned by priests and prophets, Jeremiah is ultimately spared through the intervention of officials and elders who recall Micah’s similar prophecy and Hezekiah’s godly response.

Flow.

The word of the LORD comes to Jeremiah, instructing him to deliver an uncompromising message in the temple courts, urging repentance to avert judgment.
Jeremiah declares that if the people do not obey God’s law or heed His prophets, He will make Jerusalem and the temple like Shiloh—desolate and forsaken.
The people, priests, and prophets seize Jeremiah, accusing him of treason and condemning him to death for prophesying against the city.
After Jeremiah’s defense and appeal to repentance, civil authorities intervene; elders cite Micah’s past prophecy and Hezekiah’s response as precedent, sparing Jeremiah—unlike Uriah, another faithful prophet who was murdered.

Connections. Following chapter 25, where Jeremiah announced a coming seventy-year exile and pronounced judgment on all nations—including Judah—chapter 26 grounds that global vision in a specific historical moment: a temple confrontation early in Jehoiakim’s reign. It shows the immediate hostility Jeremiah faced for declaring divine judgment on Zion. This conflict sets the stage for chapter 27, where Jeremiah reiterates the message of submission to Babylon, now not only as a word from God but as one already tested through persecution and vindicated by precedent and divine protection.

What it teaches. True prophets speak the full counsel of God, even when their words threaten religious institutions (WCF 1.4). God sends warnings in mercy, desiring that His people turn and live (HC LD 33). The fate of Shiloh (1 Sam. 4–7) illustrates that the presence of the temple does not guarantee safety if covenant faithfulness is absent (WCF 7.6; HC LD 35). Human authorities may silence messengers, but God sovereignly protects those He appoints (Dan. 6; WCF 3.8). The treatment of prophets reflects the spiritual state of a generation: Judah’s leaders nearly repeat the sin of bloodguilt, but are restrained by reverence for past acts of divine mercy (Lk. 11:49–51; HC LD 1).

Apply. When God’s word confronts cherished institutions with the call to repentance, faith responds not with defense of reputation but with submission to His authority.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.