Jeremiah Is Put on Trial as a False Prophet
1The
2The
3Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do. If they do that, then I will forgo destroying them as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing.
4Tell them that the
5You must pay attention to the exhortations of my servants the prophets. I have sent them to you over and over again. But you have not paid any attention to them.
6If you do not obey me, then I will do to this temple what I did to Shiloh. And I will make this city an example to be used in curses by people from all the nations on the earth.’”
7The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah say these things in the
8Jeremiah had just barely finished saying all the
9How dare you claim the
10However, some of the officials of Judah heard about what was happening and they rushed up to the
11Then the priests and the prophets made their charges before the officials and all the people. They said, “This man should be condemned to die because he prophesied against this city. You have heard him do so with your own ears.”
12Then Jeremiah made his defense before all the officials and all the people. “The
13But correct the way you have been living and do what is right. Obey the
14As to my case, I am in your power. Do to me what you deem fair and proper.
15But you should take careful note of this: If you put me to death, you will bring on yourselves and this city and those who live in it the guilt of murdering an innocent man. For the
16Then the officials and all the people rendered their verdict to the priests and the prophets. They said, “This man should not be condemned to die. For he has spoken to us under the authority of the
17Then some of the elders of Judah stepped forward and spoke to all the people gathered there. They said,
18“Micah from Moresheth prophesied during the time Hezekiah was king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah,
‘The
“Zion will become a plowed field.
Jerusalem will become a pile of rubble.
The temple mount will become a mere wooded ridge.”’
19King Hezekiah and all the people of Judah did not put him to death, did they? Did not Hezekiah show reverence for the
20Now there was another man who prophesied as the
21When the king and all his bodyguards and officials heard what he was prophesying, the king sought to have him executed. But Uriah found out about it and fled to Egypt out of fear.
22However, King Jehoiakim sent some men to Egypt, including Elnathan son of Achbor,
23and they brought Uriah back from there. They took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him executed and had his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.
24However, Ahikam son of Shaphan used his influence to keep Jeremiah from being handed over and executed by the people.