16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets , "No death sentence for this man ! For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God ." 17 Then some of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people , saying , 18 " Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah ; and he spoke to all the people of Judah , saying , 'Thus the Lord of hosts has said , " Zion will be plowed as a field , And Jerusalem will become ruins , And the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest ."' 19 "Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death ? Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord , and the Lord changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But we are committing a great evil against ourselves ." 20 Indeed , there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the Lord , Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim ; and he prophesied against this city and against this land words similar to all those of Jeremiah . 21 When King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and all the officials heard his words , then the king sought to put him to death ; but Uriah heard it, and he was afraid and fled and went to Egypt . 22 Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt : Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him went into Egypt . 23 And they brought Uriah from Egypt and led him to King Jehoiakim , who slew him with a sword and cast his dead body into the burial place of the common people . 24 But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah , so that he was not given into the hands of the people to put him to death .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 26:16-24
Commentary on Jeremiah 26:16-24
(Read Jeremiah 26:16-24)
When secure sinners are threatened with taking away the Spirit of God, and the kingdom of God, it is what is warranted from the word of God. Hezekiah who protected Micah, prospered. Did Jehoiakim, who slew Urijah, prosper? The examples of bad men, and the bad consequences of their sins, should deter from what is evil. Urijah was faithful in delivering his message, but faulty in leaving his work. And the Lord was pleased to permit him to lose his life, while Jeremiah was protected in danger. Those are safest who most simply trust in the Lord, whatever their outward circumstances may be; and that He has all men's hearts in his hands, encourages us to trust him in the way of duty. He will honour and recompense those who show kindness to such as are persecuted for his sake.