Jer 26:21 | KingComments | STEP | Another prophet is pointed out and that is Uriah ( ). Like Micah from the previous section, he too preached a message similar to that of Jeremiah. Like Jeremiah, Uriah did not endear himself to the people. When Jehoiakim hears Uriah’s words, he wants to kill him ( ). This makes clear the contrast with Hezekiah, who bowed to the words Micah spoke. Micah did not have to flee. His words receive a positive response. Uriah is forced to flee because his words meet with great resistance. Sometimes servants have to flee. Uriah flees to Egypt. There he is not safe, however, because Jehoiakim is so angry with him that he sends a group of men led by Elnathan after him ( ). They bring Uriah to Jehoiakim who kills him with the sword and treats his dead body with contempt ( ). He throws his dead body in the cemetery for the common people. He is not buried in his family tomb. Jeremiah, however, is spared ( ). To rescue him from the hand of his accusers the LORD uses Ahikam, the son of Shaphan [see about Shaphan and his sons and grandsons at the end of the chapter]. Ahikam still served under Josiah ( ). He is the father of Gedaliah, who is appointed governor over Judah by Nebuchadnezzar ( ; ). Ahikam puts himself on Jeremiah’s side and thus prevents him from being given into the hand of the people to kill him. We cannot ascertain why Uriah is killed and Jeremiah is spared. It is with it as with James who is killed by Herod with the sword, while the Lord frees Peter from prison and thus prevents Herod from killing him too with the sword ( ). Shaphan and his sons and grandsons Shaphan and (some of) his sons and grandsons play an important role in the final years of Judah. Shaphan is the scribe of King Josiah, who reports to Josiah the finding of the book of the law ( ). Of four sons we are informed in Scripture: 1. Ahikam. This son is sent by Josiah to the prophetess Huldah to inquire about the meaning of the found book of the law ( ). He prevents Jeremiah from being killed. 2. Gemariah. This son urges Jehoiakim not to destroy Jeremiah’s scroll ( ). 3. Elasah. This son takes Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles ( ). 4. Jaazaniah. This son takes part in the idolatry in the temple ( ). We are also told of two grandsons of Shaphan: 1. Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam. This grandson is appointed governor of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar ( ). 2. Micah, the son of Gemariah. This grandson informs the princes that the scroll of Jeremiah will be read by Baruch ( ).

‏ Jeremiah 26:21

The Murder of Uriah

Another prophet is pointed out and that is Uriah (Jer 26:20). Like Micah from the previous section, he too preached a message similar to that of Jeremiah. Like Jeremiah, Uriah did not endear himself to the people. When Jehoiakim hears Uriah’s words, he wants to kill him (Jer 26:21). This makes clear the contrast with Hezekiah, who bowed to the words Micah spoke. Micah did not have to flee. His words receive a positive response. Uriah is forced to flee because his words meet with great resistance. Sometimes servants have to flee.

Uriah flees to Egypt. There he is not safe, however, because Jehoiakim is so angry with him that he sends a group of men led by Elnathan after him (Jer 26:22). They bring Uriah to Jehoiakim who kills him with the sword and treats his dead body with contempt (Jer 26:23). He throws his dead body in the cemetery for the common people. He is not buried in his family tomb.

Jeremiah, however, is spared (Jer 26:24). To rescue him from the hand of his accusers the LORD uses Ahikam, the son of Shaphan [see about Shaphan and his sons and grandsons at the end of the chapter]. Ahikam still served under Josiah (2Kgs 22:12). He is the father of Gedaliah, who is appointed governor over Judah by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 39:14 ; Jer 40:13-16 ; Jer 41:1-3; 2Kgs 25:22). Ahikam puts himself on Jeremiah’s side and thus prevents him from being given into the hand of the people to kill him.

We cannot ascertain why Uriah is killed and Jeremiah is spared. It is with it as with James who is killed by Herod with the sword, while the Lord frees Peter from prison and thus prevents Herod from killing him too with the sword (Acts 12:1-10).

Shaphan and his sons and grandsons

Shaphan and (some of) his sons and grandsons play an important role in the final years of Judah. Shaphan is the scribe of King Josiah, who reports to Josiah the finding of the book of the law (2Kgs 22:3-13). Of four sons we are informed in Scripture:

1. Ahikam. This son is sent by Josiah to the prophetess Huldah to inquire about the meaning of the found book of the law (2Kgs 22:12-20). He prevents Jeremiah from being killed.

2. Gemariah. This son urges Jehoiakim not to destroy Jeremiah’s scroll (Jer 36:12 ; 25).

3. Elasah. This son takes Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles (Jer 29:1-3).

4. Jaazaniah. This son takes part in the idolatry in the temple (Eze 8:11-12).

We are also told of two grandsons of Shaphan:

1. Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam. This grandson is appointed governor of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 39:14 ; Jer 40:5).

2. Micah, the son of Gemariah. This grandson informs the princes that the scroll of Jeremiah will be read by Baruch (Jer 36:11-25).