Urijah

20There was another man who spoke for the LORD. He was Urijah son of Shemaiah, from the town of Kirjathjearim. He said the same things Jeremiah said against this city and this land.

And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:

NoteKirjathjearim was a town in the hills near Jerusalem. Urijah said the same hard things Jeremiah said.

21King Jehoiakim, his strongest soldiers, and his leaders heard what Urijah said. The king wanted to put him to death. When Urijah heard this, he was afraid. He ran away to Egypt.

And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;

NoteMighty men were the king's best and strongest soldiers. Egypt was a big country far away to the south. People ran there to get away from the king of Judah.

22So King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt. He sent Elnathan son of Achbor, and some other men went with him.

And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.

23They brought Urijah out of Egypt to King Jehoiakim. The king had him killed with a sword. Then his body was thrown into the graveyard used for ordinary people.

And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

NoteThe graveyard for ordinary people was a plain field, not a family tomb. Rich people were buried in caves with their families. Throwing a body there was meant as an insult.

24But Ahikam son of Shaphan stood by Jeremiah and helped him. So Jeremiah was not handed over to the people to be killed.

Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

NoteThe old words say "the hand of Ahikam was with Jeremiah." That means Ahikam protected him. Ahikam was an important man who worked for the king, so people listened to him.