This verse describes a moment of persecution faced by the prophet Jeremiah. Let's break it down:
"Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet...": Pashhur, identified in the previous verse as "chief governor in the house of the Lord," is an authority figure, likely a priest or temple official. He physically assaulted Jeremiah. The act of striking a prophet was not only disrespectful but also showed rejection of Jeremiah's prophetic message.
"...and put him in the stocks...": The stocks were a wooden device used for public humiliation and restraint. They typically had holes for the ankles and sometimes the wrists, immobilizing the person and exposing them to public ridicule and discomfort.
"...that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in Yahweh’s house.": This specifies the location of the stocks. The "upper gate of Benjamin" was a prominent entrance to the temple complex ("Yahweh's house"). Putting Jeremiah in the stocks in such a public place was a deliberate attempt to shame him and discredit his prophecies in the eyes of the people entering and leaving the temple. It was a clear message of disapproval from the temple authorities.
In essence, the verse depicts:
Opposition to Jeremiah's message: Pashhur, a representative of the religious establishment, opposed Jeremiah's prophecies (which were often warnings of judgment against Judah).
Abuse of power: Pashhur used his authority to physically punish and publicly humiliate Jeremiah.
Public rejection of the prophet: The placement in the stocks at the temple gate signifies the rejection of Jeremiah and his message by the religious leaders and, implicitly, by those who frequented the temple.
This incident highlights the conflict between Jeremiah's prophetic message (which often challenged the status quo) and the established religious and political powers of his time. It illustrates the price Jeremiah paid for speaking truth to power, facing persecution and scorn for delivering God's word. This is a common theme in the stories of prophets throughout the Bible.
This verse describes a moment of persecution faced by the prophet Jeremiah. Let's break it down:
"Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet...": Pashhur, identified in the previous verse as "chief governor in the house of the Lord," is an authority figure, likely a priest or temple official. He physically assaulted Jeremiah. The act of striking a prophet was not only disrespectful but also showed rejection of Jeremiah's prophetic message.
"...and put him in the stocks...": The stocks were a wooden device used for public humiliation and restraint. They typically had holes for the ankles and sometimes the wrists, immobilizing the person and exposing them to public ridicule and discomfort.
"...that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in Yahweh’s house.": This specifies the location of the stocks. The "upper gate of Benjamin" was a prominent entrance to the temple complex ("Yahweh's house"). Putting Jeremiah in the stocks in such a public place was a deliberate attempt to shame him and discredit his prophecies in the eyes of the people entering and leaving the temple. It was a clear message of disapproval from the temple authorities.
In essence, the verse depicts:
Opposition to Jeremiah's message: Pashhur, a representative of the religious establishment, opposed Jeremiah's prophecies (which were often warnings of judgment against Judah).
Abuse of power: Pashhur used his authority to physically punish and publicly humiliate Jeremiah.
Public rejection of the prophet: The placement in the stocks at the temple gate signifies the rejection of Jeremiah and his message by the religious leaders and, implicitly, by those who frequented the temple.
This incident highlights the conflict between Jeremiah's prophetic message (which often challenged the status quo) and the established religious and political powers of his time. It illustrates the price Jeremiah paid for speaking truth to power, facing persecution and scorn for delivering God's word. This is a common theme in the stories of prophets throughout the Bible.