Topical Bible: Prophets: The Jews: Often Imprisoned Them

◄ Prophets: The Jews: Often Imprisoned Them ►

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Throughout the history of Israel, prophets served as God's messengers, delivering His word to the people. Despite their divine mandate, these prophets frequently faced opposition, persecution, and imprisonment at the hands of their own people, particularly the leaders and authorities who resisted their messages of repentance and reform.

Jeremiah:

One of the most notable examples is the prophet Jeremiah, who endured significant persecution during his ministry. Jeremiah's messages often warned of impending judgment due to the people's unfaithfulness to God. As a result, he faced hostility from the political and religious leaders of his time. In Jeremiah 37:15, we read, "The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they beat him and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison" . Despite his imprisonment, Jeremiah continued to proclaim God's word, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to his prophetic calling.

Micaiah:

Another prophet who experienced imprisonment was Micaiah, during the reign of King Ahab of Israel. Micaiah was known for speaking the truth, regardless of the consequences. In 1 Kings 22:27, Ahab ordered, "Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely" . Micaiah's imprisonment was a direct result of his refusal to prophesy favorably for the king, choosing instead to deliver God's true message.

Hanani:

The prophet Hanani also faced imprisonment for his boldness in confronting King Asa of Judah. In 2 Chronicles 16:10, it is recorded, "Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time" . Hanani's imprisonment highlights the resistance prophets often encountered when delivering messages that challenged the status quo or rebuked the actions of the leaders.

John the Baptist:

In the New Testament, John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, was imprisoned by Herod Antipas. John's bold proclamation against Herod's unlawful marriage to Herodias led to his arrest. Matthew 14:3-4 states, "Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been telling him, 'It is not lawful for you to have her'" . John's imprisonment ultimately led to his martyrdom, underscoring the perilous path of those who faithfully delivered God's messages.

Conclusion:

The imprisonment of prophets by the Jewish people reflects a recurring theme of resistance to divine correction and truth. Despite the hardships they faced, these prophets remained steadfast in their mission, serving as powerful examples of faithfulness and courage in the face of adversity. Their experiences serve as a sobering reminder of the cost of discipleship and the challenges inherent in proclaiming God's truth to a resistant world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 22:27
And say, Thus said the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 32:2
For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.
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Jeremiah 37:15,16
Why the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.
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Library

The Restoration of the Jews.
... the declarations which he had made so often before, he ... he issued an edict authorizing
the Jews to return ... had been long before predicted by the prophets, as the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter ix the restoration of.htm

Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on ...
... He suffered, he confirms it from the Prophets, and shows ... into Jud??a, where also he
saw the Jews." eis tas ... often points out that the Ephesians 2.to Timothy is ...
/.../homilies of st john chrysostom.htm

The Foundation of the Church among the Jews
... different and widely-separated countries, often seemingly divided ... had ever been
vouchsafed to the Prophets and Teachers ... the multitude of foreign Jews who were ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter i the foundation of.htm

Rome Protects Paul
... ventures to suggest a reason why the Jews would, as ... of the God who, as their own
prophets had taught ... the two lessons that Christ's servants are often wise in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/rome protects paul.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... Daniel for its author; for in it he often speaks in ... (2.) The uniform tradition of
the Jews ascribed the ... they did not class Daniel with the prophets, but with ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

Paul Before the Council.
... authority to try the pretensions of the Prophets, and to ... the existence of angels,
who are so often represented in the sacred books of the Jews, as appearing ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxvi paul before the.htm

The Historical Situation
... the scribes in the sanhedrin were able often to dictate a ... seemed no more unreasonable
to the Jews than the ... Optimism was the mood of Israel's prophets from the ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/i the historical situation.htm

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
... of the Chaldeans had besieged Jerusalem, the Jews accused him ... saying apply to all
of us, or only to Prophets? ... as in sickness sharp remedies are often used, or ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon ix jeremiah a lesson.htm

V. ...
... That is the same that we also have often said, although God ... have no more prophets,
such as the Jews had in ... are kings and priests, so are we prophets also, all ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter i v 2.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... them which are sent unto thee, how often would I ... their power more firmly, they bribed
false prophets to proclaim ... The Jews experienced the truth of His words of ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm