Jeremiah 26:21
“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 Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt.”
What does Jeremiah 26:21 mean?
Jeremiah had just finished delivering God's hard message to the people of Judah, warning them that their city would be destroyed if they didn't turn back to God. When King Jehoiakim and his officials heard this prophecy, they were angry and wanted Jeremiah dead, seeing his words as a threat to their power and security. Another prophet named Uriah was also speaking similar warnings, and when he learned that the king was hunting the prophets down, fear overtook him and he ran for his life to Egypt. This moment shows the real danger these messengers faced for speaking truth, and how fear can lead even faithful people to flee rather than stand firm.