Kill the Prophet! (Jeremiah 26)

Scripture reading – Jeremiah 26 

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* Please note that words and phrases in brackets are the author’s amplification.

Jeremiah began his prophetic ministry as a young man who struggled with feelings of inadequacy and fear of man (Jeremiah 1:6). Nevertheless, the LORD exhorted Jeremiah, “Be not afraid of their faces,” and promised him, “I am with thee to deliver thee” (Jeremiah 1:8). With the Word of the LORD on his lips (Jeremiah 1:9) and the assurance that he would be empowered to be as strong as a walled city, Jeremiah obeyed the LORD.

In Jeremiah 7, the LORD commanded His prophet to “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word” (Jeremiah 7:1). Because Jeremiah 26 hearkens to “the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah” (Jeremiah 26:1), the two chapters may record the same event.

The LORD commanded Jeremiah: “Diminish not a Word.” (Jeremiah 26:1-10)

Jeremiah’s prophecy against Jerusalem and Judah continued in chapter 26, when the LORD commanded His prophet to “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” (Jeremiah 26:2).

Perhaps, out of fear of the people, Jeremiah might have been tempted to soften the blow of the words the LORD told him to speak. Therefore, he was warned, “Diminish not a word” (in other words, speak everything I have told you, Jeremiah 26:2). Ever longsuffering, the LORD placed before Jeremiah the desire that the people would “turn every man from his evil way,” so that He might turn from His judgment (Jeremiah 26:3).

The Rejection and Persecution of Judah’s Leaders (Jeremiah 26:7-11)

Jeremiah warned those coming to the Temple that if they did not repent, the Temple would be destroyed, as Israel’s place of worship in Shiloh had been (the location of the Tabernacle, which the Philistines destroyed (Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 1:3). Tragically, rather than repenting, the leaders threatened Jeremiah, saying, “Thou shalt surely die” (Jeremiah 26:8). 

The uproar was so great that the “princes of Judah” (civic leaders) intervened and held a public trial for Jeremiah “in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s house” (Jeremiah 26:9-10). In ancient times, the “gates” served as a public forum for business and trials. The wicked priests and false prophets accused Jeremiah of preaching doom and insisted that he be put to death (Jeremiah 26:11).

Jeremiah’s Fearless Defense (Jeremiah 26:11-15)

However, Jeremiah rose to his defense and declared, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard” (Jeremiah 26:12).

Jeremiah then challenged the people, “Amend your ways [i.e., do good] and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the Lord will repent him [i.e., change His mind] of the evil that he hath pronounced against you” (Jeremiah 26:13).

Two Legal Precedents for Freeing Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:16-24)

Some of the elders of Jerusalem argued that Jeremiah had done nothing deserving death, saying, “he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God” (Jeremiah 26:17). The leaders of the people then considered two precedents to justify Jeremiah’s acquittal (Jeremiah 26:16-23). The first was the case of the prophet Micah (Jeremiah 26:18-19), who prophesied during Hezekiah’s reign. Micah’s life was spared when the king and the people repented of their sins (Micah 3:18).

The second example was the prophet Urijah (also known as Uriah), who prophesied during the reign of Jehoiakim, around the same time Jeremiah was questioned (Jeremiah 26:20-23). Urijah had fled to Egypt; however, the king’s men returned him to Judah, and the king slew him and cast his body into a commoner’s grave (possibly the valley of Kidron, Jeremiah 26:23).

Jeremiah’s Life Spared (Jeremiah 26:24)

One man, Ahikam, sided with Jeremiah and argued that “they should not give [Jeremiah] into the hand of the people to put him to death” (Jeremiah 26:24). Unlike Urijah, who fled from Judah and sought safety in Egypt, Jeremiah had not fled nor failed to execute his office as God’s prophet.

Closing thoughts–

The admonitions of prophets and preachers have never been popular among rebellious kings and their kingdoms. Those God has called to proclaim His Word with passion will find themselves isolated, judged, rejected, and persecuted. Yet, as it was for the prophets of ancient times, so it is for preachers of our day. God has called His people to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11). Paul challenged Timothy: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).

I close with a question for anyone who dares to abuse the faithful servants and preachers of God’s Word:

“Who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?” (1 Samuel 26:9)

Copyright © 2026 – Travis D. Smith 

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