Verse-by-Verse Bible CommentaryJeremiah 26:8
When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, "You must die! Jump to: Clarke Commentary • Coffman Commentaries • Gill's Exposition • Commentary Critical and Explanatory • Calvin's Commentary • Trapp's Commentary • Poole's Annotations • Whedon's Commentary • Haydock's Catholic Commentary • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes • Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged • Ellicott's Commentary • Treasury of Knowledge Other Authors
Adam Clarke CommentaryAnd all the people - That were in company with the priests and the prophets. Copyright Statement Bibliography Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible"And it came to pass that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that Jehovah had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests, and the prophets, and all the people laid hold on him saying, Thou shalt surely die. Why hast thou prophesied in the name of Jehovah, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant? And all the people were gathered unto Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah." The scene here is one of darkness and evil. The crooked prophets and false priests were in control of the sadistic, thoughtless mob called "all the people." It is exactly what took place again when the Jerusalem mob cried, "Crucify Him"! The cunning crooked priests and prophets placed in the mouth of the mob the essentials of two capital charges; (1) that Jeremiah had spoken "in the name of Jehovah" without authority, and (2) that he had prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple, both of which events they falsely claimed had been promised absolute and complete immunity from destruction by God Himself. The Law of Moses gave the death penalty as punishment for blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16); and the same Law gave the death penalty for the speaking of a false prophecy (Deuteronomy 18:20). We should not overlook the proof that these charges by the crooked priests and prophets were based upon the provisions of the Sinaitic covenant as revealed in the Pentateuch; and that the Jews of Jeremiah's day were thoroughly familiar with every word of it! We believe that the crooked King Jehoiachim was a party to this attack on Jeremiah, a fact clearly indicated by the kings subsequent conduct. "All the people were gathered together unto Jeremiah ..." (Jeremiah 26:9). According to Barnes, this meant that the people had come together for the purpose of constituting themselves as an impromptu court to try Jeremiah. If it had been allowed to proceed as the crooked prosecutors of these charges had planned, it would probably have resulted in the same kind of trial and stoning to death that later marked the trial and death of Stephen in Acts 7th chapter. Fortunately, someone evidently summoned the elders and princes of the nation to come and take part in the trial, which they at once did. Copyright Statement Bibliography John Gill's Exposition of the Whole BibleNow it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking,.... For they let him alone till he had done, either out of reverence of him as a priest and prophet; or they were awed by a secret influence on their minds that they might not disturb him: all that the Lord had commanded him to speak unto all the people; he did as he was ordered, kept back nothing, not fearing the resentment of the people, but fearing God: that the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, took him; the priests and the prophets were the leading men in this action; they stirred up the people against him, and through their instigation he was seized and laid hold on: saying, thou shall surely die; signifying that they would bring a charge against him, which they were able to support, and which by the law would be death; unless they meant in the manner of zealots to put him to death themselves, without judge or jury; and which they would have put in execution, had not the princes of the land, or the great sanhedrim, heard of it; and therefore to prevent it came to the temple, as is afterwards related. Copyright Statement Bibliography Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Biblepriests — The captain (or prefect) of the temple had the power of apprehending offenders in the temple with the sanction of the priests. prophets — the false prophets. The charge against Jeremiah was that of uttering falsehood in Jehovah‘s name, an act punishable with death (Deuteronomy 18:20). His prophecy against the temple and city (Jeremiah 26:11) might speciously be represented as contradicting God‘s own words (Psalm 132:14). Compare the similar charge against Stephen (Acts 6:13, Acts 6:14). Copyright Statement Bibliography Calvin's Commentary on the BibleHe says at last, that he was condemned by the priests, and the prophets, and the whole people; he at the same time introduced these words, that he had spoken all that the Lord had commanded him. Thus he briefly exposed the injustice of those by whom he was condemned; for they had no regard to what was right, as we shall presently see. But as they had brought with them a preconceived hatred, so they vomited out what they could no longer contain. It afterwards follows, — Copyright Statement Bibliography John Trapp Complete Commentary
Jeremiah 26:8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded [him] to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Ver. 8. That the priests and the prophets, &c.] So they dealt by Stephen, [Acts 7:57-58] by Arnulph, an excellent preacher of the truth according to godliness at Rome, A.D. 1125, in the time of Pope Honorius II. Hic clericorum insidiis necatur. (a) This good man was put to death by the instigation of the clergy, against whose avarice, pride, and luxury he bitterly inveighed, and was therefore much favoured by the Roman nobility; as was likewise Wycliffe by the English, and Huss by the Bohemian; but the envious priests wrought their ruin. Copyright Statement Bibliography Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy BibleEither they had a reverence for the prophet, or the terror of God fell upon them, so as they did not interrupt him till he had fully despatched his errand. Then the chief of the priests, with the assistance of the people, apprehend him, and tell him he should be put to death. Copyright Statement Bibliography Whedon's Commentary on the BibleINDIGNATION OF THE PEOPLE, Jeremiah 26:8-19. 8. Had made an end of speaking, etc. — To this point Jeremiah had commanded the respectful attention of the people. Great as was their indignation they did not interrupt his discourse. Of course, the phrase all the people must not be pressed to the extreme. It implies, not absolute unanimity, but general agreement. Copyright Statement Bibliography George Haydock's Catholic Bible CommentaryDeath. The pretext was plausible, as God seemed to have promised the temple an eternal duration, 3 Kings ix. 3. The Jews accused Christ of the like crime, Matthew xxvi. 61. Such questions were brought before the sanhedrim and priests, chap. xxvi. 57. But the latter are here (Calmet) the chief accusers with "the false prophets." (Septuagint) (Haydock) --- The princes, moved by the elders, (ver. 17.) acquit the prophet, (Calmet) at the persuasion of Ahicam, ver. 24. Several priests would probably judge along with the other princes, as the examination of impostors belonged chiefly to their tribunal. (Haydock) --- All is often used for most part. (Worthington) Copyright Statement Bibliography E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notesunto. One school of Massorites (App-30) reads "concerning". Thou shalt surely die. This was in accordance with Deuteronomy 18:20, as they would not believe that Jehovah could send such a message. A reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 2:17). App-92. Jeremiah"s danger was very real. Compare Jeremiah 26:20-24. Copyright Statement Bibliography Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - UnabridgedNow it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. The priests. The captain (or prefect) of the temple had the power of apprehending offenders in the temple, with the sanction of the priests. The prophets - the false prophets. The charge against Jeremiah was that of uttering falsehood in Yahweh's name, an act punishable with death (Deuteronomy 18:20). His prophecy against the temple and city (Jeremiah 26:11) might speciously be represented as contradicting God's own words (Psalms 132:14). Compare the similar charge against Stephen (Acts 6:13-14). Copyright Statement Bibliography Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) Thou shalt surely die.—Better, as expressing the Hebrew emphasis of reduplication, Thou shalt die the death. The phrase is the same as in Genesis 2:17. The threat of the men of Anathoth (Jeremiah 11:21) is repeated by the priests and prophets of Jerusalem. They look on Jeremiah as one who has incurred the condemnation of Deuteronomy 18:20. Copyright Statement Bibliography Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeNow it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.
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