Then rose up certain of the elders of the land ,.... The same with the princes; some of the court, who rose up as advocates for the prophet: and spake to all the assembly of the people : to justify the vote of the court, and to confirm the people in a good opinion of it, by giving them examples and instances of the like kind: saying ; as follows: read more
Certain of the elders - This is really a fine defense, and the argument was perfectly conclusive. Some think that it was Ahikam who undertook the prophet's defense. read more
Verse 17 It is uncertain whether what is here recited was spoken before the acquittal of Jeremiah or not; for the Scripture does not always exactly preserve order in narrating things. It is yet probable, that while they were still deliberating and the minds of the people were not sufficiently pacified, the elders interposed, in order to calm the multitude and to soften their irritated minds, and to reconcile those to Jeremiah who had previously become foolishly incensed against him; for no... read more
JEREMIAH 'S TRIAL AND DELIVERANCE . read more
The prophet of God arraigned by the nation. Jeremiah's position, as that of all prophets, was necessarily a public one; to every man is he sent with the message. It is inadmissible for him to soften or lessen what he has to speak, which is nothing else than an indictment of the entire people (verses 4-6). In default of their repentance his arraignment by them is, therefore, all but inevitable. Indifference could not well be feigned; words like his were certain to produce an effect. I. ... read more
A scene in a Jewish court of law. We have here a graphic picture of the procedure under the Hebrew criminal law, for it would appear that Jeremiah was indicted and tried in accordance with correct legal order. The details of such a trial are not unimportant to the student of constitutional history. But they are also full of human interest. The law-court is a strange mirror of character. Many as are the objections to the publication of police news in the daily papers, it does at least serve... read more
The truth makes an impression upon the princes and the people, who declare Jeremiah to be a true prophet, and therefore innocent. read more
The elders of the land add their voice in favor of Jeremiah, not, however, without first of all consulting the people whose representatives they are. The whole verse is thoroughly technical in its phraseology. The word ( qahal ) rendered "assembly" is the traditional legal term for the "congregation of Israel" ( Deuteronomy 31:30 ); comp. verse 9, where the verb is the corresponding one to qahal . Thus, with all the faults of the government of Judah, which Jeremiah himself reveals to... read more
An argument from history. A prophet, a king, and a people belonging to a past generation are brought forward to justify the conclusion to which the princes and the people here had come. Here, then, is an eminent instance of what a practical study history may become. One must be so acquainted with the past as to seize just that completed event which will cast light on the duties and necessities of the present. I. AN INSTANCE OF A PROPHET 'S UNPALATABLE MESSAGE . No word... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 26:16-24
Here is, I. The acquitting of Jeremiah from the charge exhibited against him. He had indeed spoken the words as they were laid in the indictment, but they are not looked upon to be seditious or treasonable, ill-intended or of any bad tendency, and therefore the court and country agree to find him not guilty. The priests and prophets, notwithstanding his rational plea for himself, continued to demand judgment against him; but the princes, and all the people, are clear in it that this man is not... read more