Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 26:10
When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s [house].
10. the princes of Judah came up from the king’s house ] The powers of these persons are not clear. Evidently, however, their employment about the court and the constantly increasing weakness of the monarchy would help them to the acquisition of such authority as we find them here exercising.
came up ] See on Jer 22:1.
the new gate ] probably the same as the “upper gate” of ch. Jer 20:2, where see note.
of the Lord’s house] The MT. omits “house.” Possibly we should reject both substantives. They are unnecessary after Jer 26:9. LXX MSS., agreeing as to “house,” are divided with regard to “the Lord.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The princes of Judah – The priests could scourge a man etc., but could not then try him for his life, as the Sanhedrim subsequently did until the Romans deprived them of the power.
The new gate – That built by Jotham 2Ki 15:35, and probably a usual place for trials.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. The princes of Judah] The king’s court; his cabinet counsellors.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
When the nobles and other civil magistrates heard of the tumult, occasioned by Jeremiahs unpleasing prophecy, they came from the kings court, where the nobles and great officers in nations usually are, to the temple; and sat down at the entry of the new gate in the Lords house. Some think it was called the new gate because repaired by Jotham, 2Ki 15:35; 2Ch 27:3. Some say it was the eastern, others that it was the western gate. It was certainly the place where their sanhedrim, who were to judge of false prophets, were wont to sit.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. princesmembers of theCouncil of State or Great Council, which took cognizance of suchoffenses.
heardthe clamor of thepopular tumult.
came upfrom the king’shouse to the temple, which stood higher than the palace.
satas judges, in thegate, the usual place of trying such cases.
new gateoriginallybuilt by Jotham (“the higher gate,” 2Ki15:35) and now recently restored.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When the princes of Judah heard these things,…. The tumult there was in the temple; these were the princes of the blood, or the nobles of the realm, particularly the courtiers, and who were of the king’s privy council; or else the great sanhedrim, consisting of seventy persons, and were the chief court of judicature:
then they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord; from the royal palace where they resided; by which it should seem that they were the king’s courtiers, and counsellors, and officers of state; unless in those times the sanhedrim sat there; from hence they came up to the temple, where Jeremiah and the priests, c. were, which, being built on a hill, was higher than the king’s palace and therefore are said to “come up” to it:
and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the Lord’s [house]; as a court of judicature, to hear and try the cause between the prophet and his accusers. This gate of the temple is thought to be the higher gate, which Jotham built, 2Ki 15:35. The Targum calls it the eastern gate; and so Kimchi says it was; and that it was called the new gate, according to the Rabbins, because there they renewed the constitutions and traditions; though he thinks the better reason is, because newly repaired, or some new building was added to it. Jarchi also says it was the eastern gate; and gives this reason for its being called new; that when Jehoiakim was carried captive, and some of the vessels of the temple, Nebuchadnezzar’s army broke the eastern gate, which Zedekiah afterwards repaired, and made new; but if so, it is here called new by a prolepsis; or this account was written after that time.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
We have said that the princes were roused by a popular clamor; nor is there a doubt but; that the king had sent them to quell the commotion. It must be especially noticed, that they were engaged in other matters, as it was seldom the case that courtiers spent their time in hearing the prophets. It is indeed true, that the occupations of those are sacred, who have the care of the commonwealth, who dispense justice, and who have to provide for the public safety; but it behoves them so to divide their time, that they may be able to consecrate some portion of it to God. But courtiers think themselves exempted by a sort of privilege, when yet the truth is more necessary for them than even for the common people; for not only the duty of the head of a family lies on each of them, but the Lord has also set them over a whole people. If, then, private men have need of being daily taught, that they may faithfully rule and guide themselves and their families, what ought to be done by those rulers who are as it were the fathers of the commonwealth? But as I have already said, such men usually exempt themselves from the yoke of the faithful.
Hence then it was, that none of the princes were present, when Jeremiah had been commanded to proclaim his message, not only on the day when few came to the Temple, but when they came from all the cities of Judah to sacrifice at Jerusalem. It was, indeed, a very shameful sign of gross contempt, that no one of the king’s counsellors appeared in the Temple, when there were present, from remote places, those whom religion and the desire to sacrifice had brought there. But he says that they came to know the cause of the commotion; for it is said, that they sat at the new gate, which some say was eastward; and they conjecture that it was called new, because it had been renewed; the king’s palace was also towards the east, and the eastern gate was his tribunal. I am disposed to embrace this opinion, that they sat at the eastern gate. (164) It now follows, —
(164) The present Hebrew text is, “the new gate of Jehovah.” “House,” before Jehovah, is found in many MSS., and is given by all the Versions, except the Sept., where Jehovah as well as house, is left out. The true reading no doubt is, “the house of Jehovah.” It was called “the new gate,” says Gataker, because it had been renewed by Jotham. See 2Kg 15:35. It is rendered “the eastern gate” by the Targ. It was in the porch of this gate, according to some, that the great consistory sat. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) When the princes of Judah heard these things . . .The princes appear not to have been present when the words were spoken. The report was carried to them as they sat in council with the king, and they came down to the Temple and took their place, to watch and listen what would come next. They went apparently by what was known as the kings entry into the Temple (2Ki. 16:18), the high gate which had been built by Jotham (2Ch. 27:3), from which they could command a view of the crowds in the Temple court. (See Note on Jer. 22:2). One of them, in all probability, was Ahikam, the son of Shaphan (Jer. 26:24). As in Jer. 36:19; Jer. 36:25, the princes are less bitterly hostile than the priests.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. Princes of Judah Probably the judicial officers who were about the palace the germ of the sanhedrin of later times. They evidently had the power of life and death.
The new gate Cannot be identified. The Targum says, “east gate.” It was built by Jotham, (2Ki 15:35,) and, according to Jer 36:10, was by the inner court.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 26:10. When the princes of Judah That is, the king’s counsellors or chief officers of the state, who were also members of the Sanhedrin. By the prophets, mentioned in these verses, are meant the false prophets, who were extremely irritated against Jeremiah. The intelligent reader will observe a great similarity between the conduct of these priests and prophets towards Jeremiah, and in that of the priests, the Scribes and Pharisees, towards Jesus Christ, of whom Jeremiah was a type. See particularly Mar 14:58. Mat 26:61.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 26:10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’S [house].
Ver. 10. When the princes of Judah heard those things. ] Pii viri sunt quibus doluit populi impietas; good men they were, saith Oecolampadius. They might be so, some of them at least; and it was well done of them here to pass an impartial sentence for the innocent prophet against the priests and people. But Pilate did so for a while for our Saviour; and these princes soon after turned Jeremiah’s cruel enemies Jer 37:15 for his plain dealing. Jer 34:1-7
And sat down in the entry of the new gate.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 26:10-11
10When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD and sat in the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD’s house. 11Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, A death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied against this city as you have heard in your hearing.
Jer 26:10 sat in the entrance of the New Gate The location of the New Gate is unknown (cf. Jer 36:10). Rashi says it was the rebuilt Eastern Gate.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
new gate. The Targum takes this to be the east gate.
house. Some codices, with Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this word “house” in the text.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the princes: Jer 26:16, Jer 26:17, Jer 26:24, Jer 34:19, Jer 36:12-19, Jer 36:25, Jer 37:14-16, Jer 38:4-6, Eze 22:6, Eze 22:27
in the entry: or, at the door
the new: Jer 36:10, 2Ki 15:35
Reciprocal: 2Ki 11:5 – the watch Ezr 9:1 – the princes Jer 34:10 – when Jer 35:4 – the princes Eze 9:2 – the higher
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 26:10. The report of the protest reached the ears of the princes. The original for that word is defined, “A head person (of any rank or class). It fs used to refer to the important attaches of the palace of personal residence of the king. Upon learning of the commotion in the house of the Lord these princes came up and sat down at one of the entries.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
26:10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entrance of the {g} new gate of the LORD’S [house].
(g) So called, because it was repaired by Jotham, 2Ki 15:35 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
When the princes of Judah heard what had happened, they left the palace complex and assembled at the New Gate of the temple (cf. Jer 20:2; 2Ki 15:35). Gates were the normal sites of court sessions (cf. Gen 23:10-20; Deu 21:19; Rth 4:1; 2Sa 15:2; Pro 31:23; Amo 5:10-12). The exact location of the New (Benjamin, Altar, Upper, North) Gate is unknown, though it was an opening in the barrier that separated the outer and inner courtyards on the north side of the temple (cf. Jer 36:10; Eze 8:3; Eze 8:5; Eze 9:2). [Note: See the diagram of the temple near 20:2 above.]