What does Jeremias Chapter 26 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The full temple proclamation leads to a demand for death. Jeremias’s defense precedes the princes’ favorable decision. Micheas, Urias and Ahicam supply distinct precedent and protection accounts.

Chapter breakdown

Jeremias 26 begins in Joakim's reign with a command to speak every word in the Lord's court to Juda's worshippers. Hearing and conversion may lead to reconsidered evil; refusal to hear law and early-sent prophets makes house like Silo and city a curse. Priests, prophets and all people hear, seize Jeremias after he finishes and demand death for the announced desolation.

Princes ascend from the king's house and sit at the new gate. Priests and prophets seek a death judgment. Jeremias affirms his commission, urges amended ways and hearing, entrusts himself to what they consider good and right, and warns of innocent blood upon them, city and inhabitants. Princes and people say there is no death judgment because he spoke in the Lord's name. Their unrecorded emotions and the label sedition are not supplied.

Ancients recall Micheas of Morasthi under Ezechias, predicting ploughed Sion, Jerusalem's stones and wooded temple heights. They ask whether he was executed, recalling fear, supplication and reconsidered evil, and warn of evil against their souls. Urias son of Semei of Cariathiarim prophesied similarly; Joakim sought his death, and Urias feared and fled to Egypt. Elnathan son of Achobor and companions brought him back; Joakim slew him and cast his body into common graves. Ahicam son of Saphan supported Jeremias so he was not delivered to the people for death. This protection is not changed to rescue from a specified royal attack on Jeremias, and the order of the princes' decision before the elders' speech is preserved.

The story inside

Opening: The full temple proclamation leads to a demand for death. Development: Jeremias’s defense precedes the princes’ favorable decision. Conclusion: Micheas, Urias and Ahicam supply distinct precedent and protection accounts.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The full temple proclamation leads to a demand for death.
2
Jeremias’s defense precedes the princes’ favorable decision.
3
Micheas, Urias and Ahicam supply distinct precedent and protection accounts.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 86684–86685
26:6. I will make this house like Silo: and I will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
Lines 86716–86722
26:14. But as for me, behold I am in your hands: do with me what is good and right in your eyes: 26:15. But know ye, and understand, that if you put me to death, you will shed innocent blood against your own selves, and against this city, and the inhabitants thereof. For in truth the Lord sent me to you, to speak all these words in your hearing.