Chapter XXVI
"Ver. 1-24. Jeremiah declared worthy of Death, BUT BY THE INTERPOSITION OF AHIKAM SAVED; THESIMilar Cases of Micah and Ubijah beino adduced in THE Prophet's Favour. The prophecies which gave the offence were those given in detail in chs. 7., 8., 9. (cf. v. 6 here with ch. 7.12, 14); and summarily referred to here [Maurek], probably pronounced at one of the great feasta (that of tabernacles, according to Ushku; for the Inhabitants of " all the cities of Judaii" are represented as pres-
45. 2i. Others, " the house of a prince." Rather, it comes from the I!al)ylonian goddess, Shach, by reduplication of the first letter; from her Mi-iael was named Meihaeh by the Babylonians. The term Shace was applied foa festival at Babylon, alluded to in ch. 51. 39, 57; Isaiah
ii.o. It was (hiring this feast that Cyrus took Babylon HlK.itoncrrus, 1.) Thus Jeremiah mystically denotes the time of its capture by this term. [Glassius.] 37. rise Mo more—the heathen nations In question should fall to
ent, V. 2). See JVote, ch. 7. 1. 3. in the court—the largest
rise no more. The Jews should fall but for a time, and then rise again. Therefore, the epithet Is given, " the God
court, from which he could be heard by the whole people come to worslilp worship is vain without obedienot
0/ /.frael." 3><. If tUry refuse to take tl»e c>ip—no effort 532
The Prophet Exhorteth to Bepentanee. JEREMIAH XXVII. Tfte Subjection oj the Kings Predicted.
(1 Samuel 15. 21, 22). all the words—(Ezeklel 3. 10.) dl-
miah. 5J0. As the flight and capture of Urijah must have occupied some time, "the beginning of tlie reignof Jelioiakim" (u. 1) must not mean the very beginning, but the second or third year of his eleven years' reign. And . . . also—perhaps connected with v. 24, as the comment of the writer, not the continuation of the speech of the elders: "And although o?so a man that prophesied . . . Urijah,&c, (proving how great was the danger in which Jeremiah stood, and how wonderful the providence of God in preserving him), nevertlieless the hand of Ahikam," &c. [Gi,ASSius.] The context, however, implies rather that the words are the continuation of the previous speecli of the elders. They adduce another Instance besides that of Micah, though of a different kind, viz., that of Urijah : he suffered for his prophecies, but they imply, though they do not venture to express it, that thereby sin has been added to sin, and that it has done no good to Jelioiakim, for that the notorious condition of the state at this time shows that a heavier vengeance is impending if they persevere in such acts of violence. [Calvin.] 33. Jelioiakim sent . . . into E^ypt—He had been put on the throne by Pharaoh of Egypt (2 Kings 23. .34). This explains the readiness with which he got the Egyptians to give up Urijah to him, when that prophet had sought an asylum In Egypt. Urijah was faithful in delivering his message, but faulty in leaving his work, so God permitted him to lose his life, while Jeremiah was protected in danger. Tlie path of duty is often the path of safety. 33. graves of
I'niulsli not a avoitI—(Deuteronomy 4. 2; 12.32; Proverbs
30. B; Acts 20. 27 ; 2 Corinthians 2. 17; 4. 2; Revelation 22. 19.) Kot buppre-ssing or solteniug auglit for fear of giving of-
fonee; nor setting fortli coldly and indirectly what can only by forcible siatcmentdo good. 3. If so be—expressed according to human conceptions; not as if God did not forelinow all contingencies, but to mark the obstinacy of the people and the difficulty of healing them; and to show His own goodness in making the offer wliich left them without excuse. [Calvin.] 5. propliets — the inspired Interpreters of the law (v. 4), who adapted it to tlie use of the people. G. like ShlloU—(iV^o^e, ch. 7. 12, 14; 1 Samuel
4. 10-12; Psalm 78. 60.) curse-(Ch. 24. 9; Isaiah ft5. 15). 8. priests—The captain (or prefect) of the temple had the power of apprehending offenders in the temple with the Kanctlon of the priests, prophets-the false prophets. The charge against Jeremiah was that of uttering falsehood in Jehovali's name, an act punishable with death (Deuteronomy 18.20). Kis prophecy against the temple and city (v. 11) might speciously be represented as contradicting God's own words (Psalm 132. 14). Cf. the similar charge against Steplien (Acts 6. 13, 14). 10. princes—members of the Council of State or Great Council, which took cognizance of such offences, heard—the clamour of the popular tumult, came up-from the king's house to the temple, which stood higher than the palace, sat— as judges. In the gate, the usual place of trying such cases, new gate—originally built by Jotham (2 Kings 15. 35, "the higher gate") and now recently restored. 13. Lord sent i«je—a valid justification against any laws alleged against
tlie common people lit., so)is of the people (cf. 2 Kings 23.
6). The prophets seem to have had a separate cemetery (Matthew 23. 29). Urijah's corpse was denied this honour, in order that he should not be regarded as a true prophet. 3*. Ahikam—son of Sliaphan the scribe, or royal secretary. He was one of those whom King Josiah, when struck by the words of the book of the law, sent to inquire of the Lord (2 Kings 22. 12, 14). Hence his interference here in behalf of Jeremiah is what we should expect from his past association with that good king. His son, Gedaliah, followed in his father's steps, so that he was chosen by the Babylonians as the one to whom they committed Jeremiah for safety after taking Jerusalem, and on whose loyalty tliey could depend in setting him over the remnant of the people in Judea (ch. 89. 14; 2 Kings 25. 22). people to put him to death—Princes often, when they want to destroy a good man, prefer it to be done by a popular tumult rather than by their own order, so as to reap the fruit of the crime without odium to themselves (Matthew 27. 20).
111 in. against . . . against—ratlier, concerninr/. Jeremiah purposely avoids saying, "against," which would needlessly irritate. They had used the same Hebrew word
(v. 11), which ought to be trmiMaled concerning , though they meant it in the unfavourable sense. Jeremiah takes up their word in a better sense, implying that there is still room for repentance: that his prophecies aim at the real good of the city; for or concerning this house . . . city. [Grotics.] 1.3. CVer. 3, 19.) 14. Jeremiah's humility is herein shown, and submission to the powers that be (Romans 13. 1). 15. bring . . , upon yourselves—So far will you be from escaping the predicted evils by shedding my blood, that you will, by that very act, only incur heavier penalties (Afjuttliew 25. 35). 16. princes . . . all the people —The fickle people, as they were previously influenced by the priests to clamour for liis death (u. 8), so now under the princes' influence require that he shall not be put to death.