Jeremiah 26:23
They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him put to the sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.
They brought Uriah out of Egypt
The name "Uriah" is significant, meaning "Yahweh is my light" in Hebrew. Uriah was a prophet who fled to Egypt to escape King Jehoiakim's wrath. Egypt, in biblical history, often symbolizes a place of refuge but also of bondage. The act of bringing Uriah out of Egypt highlights the relentless pursuit of those who speak God's truth, even when they seek safety in foreign lands. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's prophets facing persecution.

and took him to King Jehoiakim
King Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, is depicted in the Bible as a ruler who did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 23:37). His reign was marked by a disregard for prophetic warnings and a tendency to suppress dissent. The act of taking Uriah to Jehoiakim underscores the king's authority and his role in opposing God's messengers. Historically, this reflects the political climate of Judah, where prophetic voices were often silenced by those in power.

who had him put to the sword
The phrase "put to the sword" is a euphemism for execution, indicating a violent and unjust end for Uriah. In Hebrew culture, the sword often symbolizes judgment and warfare. This act of execution by Jehoiakim is a stark reminder of the cost of prophetic ministry and the reality of martyrdom for those who faithfully deliver God's message. It serves as a sobering reflection on the consequences of rejecting divine warnings.

and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people
The "burial place of the common people" signifies a dishonorable burial, reserved for those deemed unworthy of a proper resting place. In ancient Israel, burial practices were significant, with proper burials being a sign of respect and honor. By denying Uriah a dignified burial, Jehoiakim not only sought to erase his memory but also to dishonor him posthumously. This act reflects the ultimate rejection and disdain for God's prophet, yet it also foreshadows the vindication of the righteous, as God remembers and honors those who are faithful to Him, regardless of human actions.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Uriah the Prophet
A prophet who, like Jeremiah, prophesied against Jerusalem and Judah. He fled to Egypt to escape King Jehoiakim's wrath.

2. King Jehoiakim
The king of Judah who opposed the prophetic messages against his kingdom and sought to silence those who spoke them.

3. Egypt
The place where Uriah sought refuge, symbolizing a place of temporary safety but ultimately not a place of divine protection.

4. The Burial Place of the Common People
A dishonorable burial site, indicating the king's disdain for Uriah and his message.

5. The Event of Uriah's Execution
This event highlights the rejection of God's prophets and the consequences of speaking God's truth in a hostile environment.
Teaching Points
The Cost of Prophetic Truth
Speaking God's truth can lead to persecution and rejection. Believers should be prepared to face opposition when standing for biblical truths.

Seeking Refuge in the Wrong Places
Uriah's flight to Egypt symbolizes seeking safety outside of God's will. True refuge is found in God alone, not in worldly solutions.

The Consequences of Rejecting God's Word
King Jehoiakim's actions demonstrate the hardness of heart that leads to rejecting God's message. We must remain open to God's correction and guidance.

The Value of Faithful Witness
Despite the outcome, Uriah's faithfulness to God's message is a testament to the importance of obedience over personal safety.

The Reality of Dishonor in the World
Uriah's burial among the common people reflects the world's dishonor of God's servants. Our honor comes from God, not from human recognition.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Uriah's experience reflect the challenges faced by those who speak God's truth today?

2. In what ways might we be tempted to seek refuge in "Egypt" rather than trusting in God's protection?

3. How can we ensure that our hearts remain open to God's message, even when it challenges our current beliefs or actions?

4. What are some practical ways we can support and encourage those who face persecution for their faith?

5. How does understanding the fate of prophets like Uriah and Jeremiah help us to persevere in our own faith journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 26:20-21
Provides context for Uriah's prophecy and his subsequent flight to Egypt, paralleling Jeremiah's own experiences.

Matthew 23:29-37
Jesus speaks of the persecution of prophets, connecting the rejection of Uriah to a broader pattern of rejecting God's messengers.

Hebrews 11:32-38
Lists the sufferings of the prophets, including those who were martyred for their faith, drawing a parallel to Uriah's fate.
Afflictions, Distresses, TumultsF. B. Meyer, B. A.Jeremiah 26:1-24
The Prophet of God Arraigned by the NationA.F. Muir Jeremiah 26:1-17, 24
An Argument from HistoryD. Young Jeremiah 26:17-23
People
Achbor, Ahikam, Elnathan, Hezekiah, Jehoiakim, Jeremiah, Josiah, Micah, Shaphan, Shemaiah, Uriah, Urijah
Places
Babylon, Egypt, Jerusalem, Kiriath-jearim, Moresheth, New Gate, Shiloh, Zion
Topics
Bodies, Body, Bring, Burial, Cast, Casteth, Common, Corpse, Dead, Death, Egypt, Fetched, Forth, Graves, Jehoiakim, Jehoi'akim, Killed, Led, Resting-place, Slew, Smiteth, Sons, Struck, Sword, Thrown, Uriah, Uri'ah, Urijah
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 26:23

     5241   burial

Jeremiah 26:20-23

     7775   prophets, lives

Library
The Life of Mr. Robert Garnock.
Robert Garnock was born in Stirling, anno ----, and baptized by faithful Mr. James Guthrie. In his younger years, his parents took much pains to train him up in the way of duty: but soon after the restoration, the faithful presbyterian ministers being turned out, curates were put in their place, and with them came ignorance, profanity and persecution.--Some time after this, Mr. Law preached at his own house in Monteith, and one Mr. Hutchison sometimes at Kippen. Being one Saturday's evening gone
John Howie—Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies)

A Godly Reformation
'Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 3. He in the first year of his reign, in the first mouth, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them. 4. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Prophet Micah.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Micah signifies: "Who is like Jehovah;" and by this name, the prophet is consecrated to the incomparable God, just as Hosea was to the helping God, and Nahum to the comforting God. He prophesied, according to the inscription, under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings. On the contrary, the entire collection forms only one whole. At
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Second Stage of Jewish Trial. Jesus Condemned by Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.
(Palace of Caiaphas. Friday.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 57, 59-68; ^B Mark XIV. 53, 55-65; ^C Luke XXII. 54, 63-65; ^D John XVIII. 24. ^d 24 Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. [Foiled in his attempted examination of Jesus, Annas sends him to trial.] ^b and there come together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. ^a 57 And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, ^c and brought him into the high priest's house. ^a where
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Sanctification.
I. I will remind you of some points that have been settled in this course of study. 1. The true intent and meaning of the law of God has been, as I trust, ascertained in the lectures on moral government. Let this point if need be, be examined by reference to those lectures. 2. We have also seen, in those lectures, what is not, and what is implied in entire obedience to the moral law. 3. In those lectures, and also in the lectures on justification and repentance, it has been shown that nothing is
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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