1.
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,
Jeremiah's Seventeenth Prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).
In the beginning: i.e. before the siege, in the third year of Jehoiakim. See note on Jeremiah 27:1 .
The first edition of the Prophets (Naples, 1485-6), the first edition of the entire Hebrew Bible (Soncino 1488), and the second edition (Naples, 1491-3), introduce the word hazi = half, here, to indicate that the second half of Jeremiah commences here.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
2.
Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
in the court. This was Jeremiah's most public utterance. Compare Jeremiah 7:2 .
cities. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for their inhabitants.
diminish not a word. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:2 ; Deuteronomy 12:32 ). App-92 . The importance of this is seen from the note on Jeremiah 26:18 .
3.
If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
every man. Hebrew. 'ish.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'.
repent Me. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
4.
And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
If ye will not hearken. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:14 .Deuteronomy 28:15; Deuteronomy 28:15 ). App-92 .
My law. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20 ).
5.
To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;
both = even. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, omit this "even".
rising up early, &c. See note on Jeremiah 7:13 .
6.
Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
Shiloh. See note on Jeremiah 7:12 .
a curse. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the subject of cursing. Compare Jeremiah 29:22 .
7.
So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
8.
Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.
unto. One school of Massorites ( App-30 ) reads "concerning".
Thou shalt surely die. This was in accordance with Deuteronomy 18:20 , as they would not believe that Jehovah could send such a message. A reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 2:17 ). App-92 . Jeremiah's danger was very real. Compare Jeremiah 26:20-24 .
9.
Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
all. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), for most of the People.
10.
When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house.
new gate. The Targum takes this to be the east gate.
house. Some codices, with Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this word "house" in the text.
11.
Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.
This man is worthy to die = Death's judgment is for this man: "judgment" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Cause), for the effect of it: viz. the sentence of death (idiomatically rendered in Authorized Version.) Compare John 3:19 , where krisis is put for the act or process of judging. See App-85 .
man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
as = according as.
12.
Then spake Jeremiah unto 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 ye have heard.
13.
Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.
obey = listen to.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
14.
As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.
15.
But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
innocent blood. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 19:10 , Deuteronomy 19:13 ). App-92 . Compare Matthew 27:4 , Matthew 27:25 .Luke 23:13-15 . See App-85 .
16.
Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
Then said the princes, &c. In favour of Jeremiah. Note the Structure, p. 1053.
This man, &c. See App-85 .
man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
17.
Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,
certain = men. Plural of 'enosh. App-14 . Some better acquainted with affairs than others.
18.
Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountains of the house as the high places of a forest.
Micah. The prophet whose book is called after his name. Contemporary with Hosea and Amos in Israel, and with Isaiah in Judah. See App-77 .
the LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 . 1 Samuel 1:3 .
Zion shall be plowed, &c. See note on Micah 3:12 . A prophecy which was wholly fulfilled as to the Jewish Zion (south of Moriah), but not as to the traditional Zion, south-west of Jerusalem. See App-68 .
19.
Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.
the LORD. Hebrew 'eth Jehovah = Jehovah Himself.
besought the LORD = appeased the face of Jehovah. Figures of speech Pleonasm and Anthropopatheia.
repented Him. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:14 ). App-92 .
souls. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
20.
And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:
And = But. Said in reply to the friends of Jeremiah by his adversaries. See the Structure above.
Urijah. This incident is not recorded in the historical books, but it illustrates Jeremiah 26:5 .
Kirjath-jearim. Now 'Khan 'Erma, or Kuriet el 'Enab, four miles west of the hill overlooking Beth-shemesh, and about twelve miles from Jerusalem.
21.
And 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 Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;
the king sought, &c. One of eleven rulers offended with God's messengers. See note on Exodus 10:28 .
22.
And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.
Elnathan. See Jeremiah 26:22 ; Jeremiah 36:12 , Jeremiah 36:25 .
23.
And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
slew him with the sword. Compare Hebrews 11:37 .
common People. Hebrew sons of the people.
24.
Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
Ahikam. The father of Gedaliah, who, when appointed governor by Nebuchadnezzar, stood as the friend of Jeremiah. For a son of Ahikam also befriending Jeremiah, See Jeremiah 40:6 .
Shaphan. See note on 2 Kings 22:3 . See Jeremiah 36:10 for another son; Jeremiah 29:3 for another son. Also befriending Jeremiah.