Irijah is a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah, specifically in Jeremiah 37:13-14. He is identified as the son of Shelemiah and is noted for his role as a captain of the guard during the time of the prophet Jeremiah. His actions are significant in the context of the political and spiritual turmoil that characterized the final days of the Kingdom of Judah before the Babylonian exile.

Biblical Account

In the narrative found in Jeremiah 37, Irijah encounters the prophet Jeremiah at the Benjamin Gate. At this time, Jeremiah is attempting to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to claim his property among the people there. Irijah, however, accuses Jeremiah of defecting to the Babylonians, a charge that Jeremiah vehemently denies. The text in the Berean Standard Bible reads:

"While he was at the Benjamin Gate, a captain of the guard whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, was there. He arrested Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 'You are deserting to the Chaldeans!' 'That is a lie,' Jeremiah replied. 'I am not deserting to the Chaldeans!' But Irijah would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials." (Jeremiah 37:13-14)

Role and Significance

Irijah's actions reflect the heightened suspicion and tension within Jerusalem as the city faced the threat of Babylonian conquest. His accusation against Jeremiah is indicative of the broader mistrust of Jeremiah's prophetic messages, which often called for submission to Babylon as a means of divine judgment and eventual restoration. Irijah's decision to arrest Jeremiah and bring him before the officials demonstrates the political and social pressures of the time, as leaders grappled with the fear of betrayal and the hope of deliverance.

Historical and Theological Context

The incident involving Irijah occurs during the reign of King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. This period was marked by political instability, as Judah was caught between the powerful empires of Egypt and Babylon. Jeremiah's prophecies, which urged submission to Babylon, were seen as controversial and even treasonous by many in Judah, including its leaders and military officials.

From a theological perspective, Irijah's actions can be seen as part of the broader narrative of resistance to God's prophetic word. Jeremiah's arrest and subsequent imprisonment highlight the rejection of divine counsel by the people of Judah, a theme that runs throughout the prophetic literature. Irijah, as a representative of the military and political establishment, embodies the struggle between human authority and divine revelation.

Legacy

Irijah's brief appearance in the biblical text serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between faith, politics, and prophecy. His encounter with Jeremiah underscores the challenges faced by those who sought to remain faithful to God's word in the midst of national crisis and impending judgment. While Irijah himself is not a central figure in the biblical narrative, his actions contribute to the unfolding account of Judah's last days and the fulfillment of prophetic warnings.Irijah

the fear of the Lord

Irijah

(seen by the Lord), son of Shelemiah, a captain in the ward, who met Jeremiah in the gate of Jerusalem called the "gate of Benjamin" accused him of being about to desert to the Chaldeans; and led him back to the princes. (Jeremiah 37:13,14) (B.C. 589.)

IRIJAH

i-ri'-ja (yir'iyayh, "Yah sees"): A captain at the gate of Benjamin in Jerusalem, who arrested Jeremiah the prophet on suspicion of intending to desert to the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 37:13, 14).

3376. Yiriyyah -- "Yah sees," an Israelite of Jeremiah's time
... "Yah sees," an Israelite of Jeremiah's time. Transliteration: Yiriyyah or Yiriyyayh
Phonetic Spelling: (yir-ee-yaw') Short Definition: Irijah. ... Irijah. ...
/hebrew/3376.htm - 6k

The World's Wages to a Prophet
... And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose
name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the worlds wages to a.htm

Irijah (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia IRIJAH. i-ri'-ja (yir'iyayh ... 13, 14).
Multi-Version Concordance Irijah (2 Occurrences). Jeremiah 37:13 ...
/i/irijah.htm - 7k

Iri'jah (2 Occurrences)
Iri'jah. Irijah, Iri'jah. Irksome . Multi-Version Concordance Iri'jah (2
Occurrences). ... Irijah, Iri'jah. Irksome . Reference Bible.
/i/iri'jah.htm - 7k

Deserting (4 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 37:13 And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard was
there whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and ...
/d/deserting.htm - 7k

Shelemiah (10 Occurrences)
... (5) The father of Irijah, the captain of the ward, who arrested Jeremiah as a deserter
to the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 37:13). (6) 1 Chronicles 26:14. ...
/s/shelemiah.htm - 12k

Arrested (24 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 37:13 When he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard was there,
whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he ...
/a/arrested.htm - 13k

Babylonians (48 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 37:13 When he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard was there,
whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he ...
/b/babylonians.htm - 22k

Chaldaeans (65 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 37:13 But when he was at the Benjamin door, a captain of the watch named
Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, who was stationed there ...
/c/chaldaeans.htm - 28k

Chalde'ans (74 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 37:13 And it cometh to pass, he is at the gate of Benjamin, and there
'is' a master of the ward -- and his name is Irijah son of Shelemiah, son of ...
/c/chalde'ans.htm - 29k

Iri (1 Occurrence)

/i/iri.htm - 7k

Fallest (4 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 37:13 And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was
there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and ...
/f/fallest.htm - 7k

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